Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 15 deals with some of the issues we discussed earlier relating to land. This may be the space in which we deal with Deputy Calleary's concerns regarding how we define dealing or developing. Section 15 prohibits members of local authorities from acquiring or disposing of land or an interest in it or dealing in any professional capacity with land during their term of office and for two years afterwards in certain circumstances. The Bill lays out those particular circumstances. For example, these include if the land related to any function that was discharged in respect of the Planning and Development Act 2000 or if it refers to land that was subject to the passing of a resolution. Section 15(2) refers to the development plan, for example, if they own a piece of land that may have been impacted by the development plan. Section 15(3) introduces the concept of not being able to do that when they hold the office for a period of two years after the expiry of that term of office.