Vol. 540 No. 1
344 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he intends to introduce new regulations and a code of conduct to ensure that best practice is maintained at all times in the planning system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20016/01]
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, requires each local authority and An Bord Pleanála to adopt a code of conduct for members and officials to deal with conflicts of interest and to promote public confidence in the integrity of the conduct of planning administration.
These provisions will represent a strengthening of safeguards in this area, involving annual declarations of interest, which have been in place under existing legislation.
Regulations are currently being finalised by my Department which will bring these provisions into force. Some of the regulations require the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. I have also undertaken to bring the regulations in their entirety before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government for discussion prior to bringing them into force. A draft of the regulations will be submitted to the Oireachtas very shortly.
In due course, the provisions in the Local Government Bill relating to ethics will replace those in the Planning and Development Act with respect to local authorities. Those provisions will apply to the members and officials of local authorities, whether they are engaged in duties relating to planning.
