Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995
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Appointment of, and complaints to, Committees. |
8.—(1) Each House shall as soon as may be after the commencement of this section and, thereafter, as soon as may be after the first meeting of that House subsequent to a general election for members of that House appoint a select committee which shall be known— | |
(a) in the case of the committee appointed by Dáil Éireann as the Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann, and | ||
(b) in the case of the committee appointed by Seanad Éireann, as the Committee on Members' Interests of Seanad Éireann, | ||
to perform the functions conferred on it by this Act. | ||
(2) A person (other than a member) who considers that a member (other than a member who is or, at the relevant time, was an office holder) may have contravened section 5 or 7 may make a complaint in writing in relation to the matter to the Clerk and, subject to subsection (3), the Clerk shall refer the matter to the Committee and shall furnish a copy of the complaint to the Committee. | ||
(3) The Clerk concerned shall consider a complaint under subsection (2) and, if the Clerk is of opinion that it is frivolous or vexatious, he or she— | ||
(a) shall not refer it to the Committee, and | ||
(b) shall prepare a statement in writing of the reasons for his or her opinion and furnish a copy of it to— | ||
(i) the person who made the complaint, | ||
(ii) the member concerned, and | ||
(iii) the Committee. | ||
(4) A member who considers that a member (other than a member who is or, at the relevant time, was an office holder) may have contravened section 5 or 7 may make a complaint in writing in relation to the matter to the Committee of that House. | ||
(5) A complaint may not be made under this section in respect of a person who has ceased to be a member. |