Foreword

The Standards in Public Office Commission (the Commission), in accordance with section 23 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (the Ethics Act) as amended by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (the Standards Act), has carried out an investigation to determine whether Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, formerly of Donegal County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta has contravened the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 (the Ethics Acts) and/or Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001 (the Local Government Act). The Commission, in accordance with section 24 of the Ethics Act, has prepared the following report of the result of that investigation, copies of which, in accordance with section 24(1) of the Ethics Act and section 180(3) of the Local Government Act, are being furnished to:

1.     Senator Ó Domhnaill, the subject of the investigation;

2.     Mr. Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council and Councillor Terence Slowey, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council, one of whose predecessors, Councillor Noel McBride, along with Mr. Neely made a complaint to the Commission and

3.     the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Mr. Justice Daniel O'Keeffe
Chairperson

Mr. Seamus McCarthy
Comptroller and Auditor General

Mr. Peter Tyndall
Ombudsman

Mr. Peter Finnegan
Clerk of Dáil Éireann

Ms Deirdre Lane
Clerk of Seanad Éireann

Mr. Jim O'Keeffe
Commissioner

December 2016