Richard Bruton
Question:108 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the obligations of ethics legislation to cover councillors as well as members of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22691/03]
Written Answers. - Ethics Legislation.
Any strengthening or enhancement of the rules or provisions on ethics in local government is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The Deputy will be aware that the Local Government Act 2001 has the following provisions. Part 15 of the Act provides a comprehensive new ethics framework for councillors and local government employees. This framework came into operation earlier this year and is based on a system of annual declaration of interests, disclosure of interest when a matter comes before the local authority and a public register of these interests. The interests which have to be declared are set out in Part 15 of the Act and associated regulations and include such matters as shareholdings, directorships, holdings of land or other property, gifts, supplies of property or services, travel facilities, contracts with a local authority and certain other matters.
This framework will be backed up by statutory codes of conduct – one for staff and one for councillors. I understand that these codes are currently being prepared by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and drafts should be available later this year.
Any extension of further provisions of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 to local government is a matter for my colleague.