Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We are using the current system and practice in local government. The purpose is to harmonise it because we are talking about people who, in many cases, will also be members of local authorities. If new local government legislation changes that, it might be necessary to harmonise it with this legislation. I am not sure whether that local government legislation could necessarily amend this legislation. I am advised it could not. We can only deal with what is law at present and the law for local government at present with regard to this aspect is as I have described. I am proposing that we harmonise this draft law with the existing local government law.