asked the Taoiseach if each Minister of State has responded to his request to resign membership of local authorities; if not, the names of the Ministers who have not resigned; and the authority and committees of which they continue to be members.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ministerial Membership of Local Authorities.
1.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 18 January 1984. The position has not changed since that time except in respect of Deputy Séamus Pattison, Minister of State at the Department of Social Welfare, who has resigned from the South-Eastern Health Board.
Is the Taoiseach saying that his Ministers of State have refused to act on his request to them to resign their membership of local authorities?
I never said anything about a request. In reply to previous questions I stated that I notified them of the practice of previous Governments which included the Fianna Fáil Government from 1979 to 1981 in which six Ministers of State remained members of local authorities until the end of the life of that Government and the practice of the short lived Fianna Fáil Government of 1982 during which four Ministers of State and one Minister remained members of various local authorities.
As did Deputy Flanagan. Did the Taoiseach write to the Ministers of State asking them to resign their membership of local authorities?
I indicated the practice of previous administrations to them.
Would the Taoiseach agree that there is a definite conflict of interest in the case of the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment retaining membership of Dublin Corporation? In view of his statement to the House last week that he played a major role in the formation of policy in regard to reforming local authorities, drawing up new electoral boundaries for Dublin Corporation and in relation to the proposed metropolitan council to serve the needs of the Dublin local authority area and in view of his participation in and funding of these local authorities, surely the Taoiseach must agree that there is a definite, identifiable conflict of interest.
No, I do not agree.
Does the Taoiseach seriously expect that by giving such a negative answer he can hope to retain credibility in the eyes of the people?
It is most unworthy of the Taoiseach.
He is a disgrace.