Vol. 525 No. 3
308 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals he has to issue guidelines to local authorities with regard to the holding of all council meetings relating to development plans in public. [24984/00]
It is my view that all local authority proceedings, in relation to the development plan or otherwise, should be seen to be open and transparent and that only in the most exceptional of circumstances should meetings be held in private. However, in certain circumstances, for example where commercially sensitive information is being discussed, it may be in the public interest for meetings to be held in committee but it is my view that the outcome of such meetings should be available to the public at the earliest possible date.
Section 45 of the Local Government Bill, 2000, which is scheduled to commence Second Stage debate next week, confers a statutory right of public attendance at meetings of the full council; at present only the media has such a right. Under these provisions, a local authority can only meet in private in special circumstances and subject to special procedures. The Bill also requires that a local authority set out in its standing orders "rules governing the admission of the public and the media to meetings of committees". The question of possible adjustments to those provisions can be considered as the Bill proceeds.
