The argument that one must separate the role of national legislator from that of local politician is ridiculous. As Tip O'Neill said, all politics are local, and there is no national legislation which does not have a local dimension – and no local issue which does not also have a national and legislative dimension. In other countries, national politicians can hold local authority seats. Ireland is a much smaller country than many of these, and much more manageable in terms of holding a dual mandate. If a national politician in France can also be a local councillor, I do not see why the dual mandate is not possible in Ireland. It is not compulsory to hold the dual mandate, and those Oireachtas Members who do not want to sit on local authorities or feel they cannot manage it should make the choice themselves, rather than having it imposed on them, as is proposed in this legislation. One can be a Member of the Oireachtas as well as being an MEP, and that is not considered legally unmanageable. I do not see why being a Member of the Oireachtas and the local council is not more manageable and defensible. It is absurd that while one will be allowed to hold two full-time elected positions, as an Oireachtas Member and an MEP, this legislation will not allow an Oireachtas Member to hold a part-time elected position on the local council.