Calls for Public Service Standards Commission to be fully independent of Government
There are calls for the new Public Service Standards Commission to be fully independent of Government.
Proposals for the Commission will go before Cabinet next week in a bid to overhaul the political ethics system.
It follow Monday's RTE documentary which contained footage of three County Councillors who appeared to accept offers of money or future investment in return for help with the planning process.
Deputy leader of the Green Party Catherine Martin has said any Commission needs to be independent: “I would to see it have real powers to investigate any wrong doing, to commence investigations as quickly as possible and have the ability to follow them through.
“It must be fully independent of Government to be seen to be fully independent of Government to help restore the trust of the people in the body politic which has been done by self-serving politicians and there must be real consequences.”
Donegal County Council has launched an investigation after independent councillor John O'Donnell appeared in the documentary.
Cllr O'Donnell has defended himself and threatened legal action against RTE for breaching his privacy.
But Donegal Sinn Féin Cllr Mick Quinn, has said he has to go: “Sinn Féin has been very clear and we believe that John needs to step down from his role as a publically elected councillor because there are too many questions to answer.”
