237A.—(1) In this section "dealing" in relation to a member of either House of the Oireachtas means a dealing with such a member in his or her capacity as such a member.

(2) Local authorities shall conduct their dealings with members of either House of the Oireachtas in accordance with regulations under subsection (3).

(3) The Minister shall make regulations for the purposes of subsection (2) and those regulations shall include provisions in relation to—

(a) the supply, without charge, of notice, agenda and minutes of local authority meetings to members of either such House,

(b) the supply by local authorities of other specified documentation or other specified information.

(c) correspondence with such members by local authorities,

(d) arrangements to facilitate access by such members to information, and communication generally by local authorities with such members, and

(e) such other matters as the Minister may consider appropriate for the purposes of subsection (2).

(4) Nothing in this section derogates from—

(a) section 4,

(b) the functions of a local authority as specified in section 63(1)(a), or

(c) the role of local authority members as locally elected public representatives.]