Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:11 Mr. McCormack asked the Taoiseach the number of Minister who are still members of local authorities; and when he proposes to make them resign their seats on local authorities and subsidiary bodies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of Local Authorities.
The only member of the Government belonging to a local authority is the Minister for Energy, Deputy Bobby Molloy.
Would the Taoiseach not think that it is time that Deputy Molloy was asked to resign his seat on the local authority as he had done quickly under a previous Taoisigh in 1970 and 1977? Does the Taoiseach not consider it a serious matter, in fact a scandal, that a Minister should remain on a local authority and on subsidiary bodies of a local authority where obviously serious conflicts of interests can occur and where a Minister can use his position to influence decision as I have evidence of recently in Galway where the Minister mentioned in the Taoiseach's reply misused his position in influencing an important decision on a subsidiary body of a local authority?
If the Deputy wishes to make a charge against a Member of the House he should do so by way of substantive motion rather than by way of remarks across the floor of the House in this fashion.
The Minister himself was there until a couple of minutes ago and he deliberately left the Chamber when he saw this question coming up as he did not want to be embarrassed by the question. I did not ask him to leave the Chamber. He left the Chamber himself.
Deputy, this may not lead to argument or accusation of the kind you are indulging in.
Would the Taoiseach not consider it his duty, as a previous Taoiseach did, to ask Ministers to immediately resign from local authorities? It is now 18 months since Deputy Molloy became a Minister and not alone is he on one local authority but he is on two local authorities and several subsidiary bodies of those local authorities. He very seldom attends, but he attends when there is something influential to be decided.
Perhaps this sort of criticism would be better thrashed out in the local authority itself. First, the Deputy must not take it that I am accepting any criticism that he makes of my colleague. I do not accept that. Second, it is not the first time that Ministers in Government have remained on local authorities. The Deputy should not think, for a moment, that it is. Second, the Minister for Energy is well aware of my views on the matter.
Do I take it from what the Taoiseach is saying that he has no objection to the Minister for Energy remaining on Galway Corporation and Galway County Council; and if, as a matter of public policy, he has recently requested the Minister to resign from such bodies or will he do so in the near future?
It is interesting that Deputy Spring should intervene because when he was Minister for the Environment he remained a member of Kerry County Council for five months. I have no evidence that that did any harm.
At the earliest opportunity I resigned as a matter of policy. With respect, the Taoiseach has not answered my question.
The Minister for Energy is aware of my views and I will continue to persuade all Ministers to see things my way in this regard.
(Interruptions.)
Could the Taoiseach state which Ministers of State are still members of local authorities?
That is another question. Sometimes I feel Deputies here ask questions to which they already know the answers.
Does the regulation concerning Ministers also govern Junior Ministers?
Yes, it does.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Minister has misused his position on a subsidiary body of a local authority, because, if he is not, I will make him aware of it very soon.
Wait until the Minister is here and I am sure he will answer adequately.
Is the Taoiseach aware of that or is he keeping an eye on his Ministers at all?
I do my best.