Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Officials.

Seán Crowe

Question:

296 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001, requires that officials employed in local authorities must make a declaration in the register of ethics which includes identifying their home addresses; his views on whether this might pose a risk to certain officials who might be working in sensitive areas who might be targeted following the identification of their addresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2942/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

Part 15 of the Local Government Act, 2001 provides a new ethical framework for local government employees and councillors and came into effect on 1 January 2003. This part updates a system of declaration of interests and a public register which has operated since the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1976.

Relevant employees and councillors are obliged to furnish an annual declaration form of their declarable interests and this process is currently under way in local authorities. My attention has been drawn to concerns of certain officials working in sensitive areas, from a security point of view, in relation to the inclusion of their home address in the public register and I am having this matter examined.