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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Councillor ethics and nominations

Summary

Deputy Smith questioned whether a councillor criticised by SIPOC for ethical failures should have been nominated again and asked for consequences in law. The Taoiseach said there are no plans for further legislation on the issue.

The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 is framed around measures arising from the Mahon tribunal, which attempt to eradicate from the political system any hint of corruption, cronyism or favouritism and to bring us up to a clear, transparent standard in politics. The Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPOC, is the body that requires us to adhere to standards and ethics, including financial standards. It found a very serious failure by a Fine Gael councillor in Mayo. He did not reach those standards, yet last weekend the same councillor was nominated to run for the local elections at a convention in Mayo. There is either a gap in the legislation or there is a problem in Fine Gael when someone fails the ethical standards of the State and the party returns him without any question to represent the constituency in Mayo. Councillor Cyril Burke was clearly found by SIPOC to be in breach of the standards of ethics in public office. What does Fine Gael have to say about it? What does the Government have to say about it? More importantly, from a legislative point of view-----

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The time is up.

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-----can we go back and revisit the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 to make sure that there are consequences-----

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The time is up.

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-----for failure to adhere to those standards?

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

If I recall correctly, there were entire political parties in this House against whom adverse findings were made by SIPOC for not presenting their accounts on time. We are not just talking about accounts. There are no plans for additional legislation in this area.

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He failed the ethical standards and yet he has been returned to stand for election.

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Deputy Bríd Smith should please not interrupt. I call Deputy Broughan.

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