The unique protocol we arranged was that I wrote to the Minister on representations to the local authority on housing, roads, local employment schemes, etc., and he communicated these to the county manager who replied to him within seven days. The Minister then replied to me and I informed the constituent of the position. It was an unnecessary situation, but, I must admit, I got a tremendous response to my representations. I returned to the council in 1999, heading the poll for Fianna Fáil in the mid-Roscommon area and delivering three out of five seats.