31AL.—(1) (a) The Office shall adopt a code of conduct for dealing with conflicts of interest and promoting public confidence in the integrity of the conduct of its business which is required to be followed by those persons referred to in subsection (3).

(b) A code of conduct under this section shall be subject to the approval of the Minister and be adopted within one year of the establishment day.

(2) A code of conduct shall consist of a written statement setting out the policy of the Office on at least the following matters:

(a) disclosure of interests and relationships where the interests and relationships are of relevance to the work of the Office, as appropriate;

(b) membership of other organisations, associations and bodies, professional or otherwise;

(c) membership of, or other financial interests in, companies, partnerships or other bodies;

(d) undertaking work, not being work on behalf of the Office both during and after any period of employment with the Office, whether as a consultant, adviser or otherwise;

(e) acceptance of gifts, sponsorship, considerations or favours;

(f) disclosure of information concerning matters pertaining to the work of the Office, as appropriate;

(g) following of best practice to be adopted in relation to the functions of the Office including the procedures for the provision of observations, submissions or recommendations in accordance with this Act in relation to—

(i) the review, making and variation of development plans,

(ii) the review, making and amendment of local area plans,

(iii) the review, making and amendment of regional spatial and economic strategies, and

(iv) the disclosure by the Planning Regulator, staff of the Office or persons to whom section 31AJ relate of any representations relating to the work or functions of the Office made to the Planning Regulator, to any such staff member or person, whether in writing or otherwise in relation to those matters.

(3) The code of conduct adopted by the Office applies—

(a) to the Planning Regulator,

(b) to a member of the staff of the Office, or

(c) to the extent indicated in the code of conduct, to any person or class or classes of persons to whom section 31AJ relates,

and the code of conduct shall be complied with by each person to the extent that it relates to him or her or has been duly applied to him or her.]