This legislation is not unprecedented. Ministers and Ministers of State were deprived of membership of councils in 1991. They say lightning does not strike twice, but in my case it has done so. I served as Minister of State with responsibility for trade and marketing and, until 1991, I received numerous letters from the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, asking when I might leave the local authority. There was always a good reason not to leave, whether it was the forthcoming election of the cathaoirleach or some other important issue. I did not seek or receive any subsistence at that point because I was a Minister of State, but I attended the majority of meetings – I had one of the best attendance records – and managed to combine the roles of Deputy, Minister of State and councillor. I did not stand for election to the council in 1991 because of the legislation, I lost my Dáil seat in 1992 and I lost my Seanad seat in 1993.