Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
159. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the investigation carried out by Meath County Council into the rezoning of lands at Liscarton, Navan, County Meath in July 2017 and the granting of planning permission on the land in June 2018 has not been carried out transparently (details supplied). [37482/20]
View answerPart 15 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, sets out an ethical framework for local government. This imposes a statutory duty on elected members of local authorities to maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct and concern for the public interest.
If a person considers that an elected member of a local authority may have contravened the requirements of the ethical framework the matter may be reported to the ethics registrar of the local authority in the first instance. The ethics registrar must then bring the matter to the attention of the Cathaoirleach and the Chief Executive who must consider what action should be taken and prepare a report.
If a person is not satisfied with the outcome of the consideration of the matter by the local authority then a complaint may be referred to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO), which is independent in the performance of its functions.
As Minister, I have no function or role in relation to the investigation of individual complaints made to a local authority or to SIPO concerning an alleged breach of the ethical framework.
