Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to detail the arrangements in place for where an employee of the Department, and each organisation under its aegis, becomes elected or co-opted to a local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19570/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, employees of my Department and bodies under its aegis are expected to adhere to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour at all times. The Code forms part of the terms of employment of all civil servants. This Code states that civil servants above clerical level cannot stand for local election. Civil servants in clerical grades and certain non-industrial civil servants are free to engage in politics and may stand for local election.

Before standing in a local election, eligible civil servants are required to apply to their Department/Office for permission to engage in politics and may, at the discretion of their Department/Office, have their application refused where a conflict of interest is identified.

In addition, my Department complies with Circular 9/2009 ‘Civil Servants and Political Activity’ brings together and elaborates on the rules that apply to civil servants in relation to politics and political activity including local elections.

I am also informed that the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is bound by further regulations, as set out in the Legal Services Regulation Act (2015).