Trevor Sargent
Question:102 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, to monitor and make more comprehensive the register of interests of local authority members. [3369/96]
Written Answers. - Register of Interests Update.
The only such register currently required is that provided for in section 32 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1976. This requires elected members and officials to give a declaration to the local authority of all relevant interests which they may have. The interests concerned include an interest in land situated in the area of the authority; any business of dealing in, or developing, land in which such a person is engaged or employed; or any profession, business or occupation in which such a person is engaged and which relates to dealing in or developing land. These declarations are maintained in a register which is open to public inspection. A duty to comply with the declaration requirement rests on the individual and failure to comply is an offence.
I have no proposals at present to change these reguirements.