Question to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a moratorium on former employees of local authority planning departments precluded such former employees from providing planning consultancy services for a period of time after their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 26th February, 2013.
Ref No: 9943/13
REPLY
Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Ms. J. O’Sullivan):
The Code of Conduct for employees of local authorities was published in June 2004 under Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001. It is an integral part of the ethical framework for the local government service. The Code includes disclosure requirements concerning employment outside the local government sector and addresses situations concerning a conflict of personal and public interest. The code also provides that officials to whom part 15 of the Act applies shall not, within twelve months of resignation or retirement, accept an offer of employment or consultancy engagement where the nature and terms are such that the question of a conflict of interest could arise without obtaining the approval of the appropriate authority. The twelve month period applies to an employee to whom Part 15 applied at any time during the six month period immediately prior to retirement or resignation.