Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
343. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 228 of 8 February 2024, if he has the power to appoint an independent, competent and appropriate person to enquire into the issue and report back to him directly on the issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7529/24]
View answerIn considering this matter it is in the first instance necessary to have regard to the relevant legislation to determine if the legislation makes adequate provisions for the issue at hand. In that regard, the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended) provides the elected members of a local authority with the statutory responsibility, power and functions to determine matters such as this. Under the 2001 Act, the chief executive of a local authority is accountable to the elected council. The Act provides the elected council with the appropriate powers and functions to obtain any information necessary from the chief executive in relation to the issue, and to examine the allegations made in this case. On that basis, it would be entirely inappropriate and premature for me to become involved in the matter in circumstances in which the elected council, to which the chief executive is answerable and accountable, has not, it appears as of yet, made a decision to or exercised any of the functions or powers available to it under the Act in relation to this issue.
