Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he intends to bring in regulations limiting the employment options available to county managers and senior council officials where there are potential conflicts of interests in the period immediately after resignation from the local authority. [4221/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A code of conduct for employees of local authorities was published in June 2004 under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 as an integral part of the ethical framework for the local government service. The code includes disclosure requirements concerning prospective employment outside the local government sector, including a requirement that a local authority employee should disclose any concrete offer, or acceptance of any such offer, of employment that could create a conflict of interest.

The question of local government officials accepting outside appointments or consultancies following resignation or retirement is not subject to the code of conduct at present. However, my Department has formulated proposals to amend the code in this regard; the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Department of Finance are currently being consulted on these. A decision on the proposed amendments will be made as quickly as possible.