Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is clear from subsection (2) that the person must disclose to the agency, the investment committee or the committee concerned, the fact of his or her interest and its nature in advance of consideration of the matter. The person must neither influence nor seek to influence a decision, must take no part in consideration of the matter, must absent himself or herself from the meeting or the part of the meeting concerned during which the matter is discussed, must not vote on a decision relating to the matter and where a material interest is disclosed, the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes. Subsection (6) provides that where the Minister is satisfied, on being informed by the agency, that a person has contravened subsection (2), the appropriate action, including removal from office, is taken and, as stated earlier, the person is subject to the full rigours of the law in terms of the Ethics in Public Office Act. The penalties for those who breach the law are significant and are, I think, adequate.