Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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641. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering taking measures to prohibit those who do not qualify for tax clearance certificates from the Revenue Commissioners from taking their seats as elected members of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27930/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government's Action Programme for Effective Local Government provides for the development of a uniform code of ethics by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, across the public service. In the case of local government, the aim is to deliver, and to be seen to deliver, better governance locally. Elements identified in the Action Programme include the need for better training for councillors, the reinforcement of standards for councillors, disclosure (e.g. of representations on planning) and public availability of relevant matters (e.g. voting records and contracts).

The question of whether prohibiting councillors, without tax clearance from the Revenue Commissioners, from taking their seats as elected representatives has not been identified in the Action Programme as a necessary improvement to the ethics code but can be considered in the context of the development of the uniform ethics code for the public service.