Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I support the legislation. It is a major reform which will have far-reaching beneficial consequences for the work of the Oireachtas. Elected Members will put their energies into their Oireachtas work and will act as the interface between their constituency and central Government.

I find the constitutional arguments against the Bill unconvincing. They could equally be applied in arguing that it is unconstitutional to debar Ministers, Ministers of State, civil servants or others from standing in local elections.

Nothing I say should be taken as wishing to denigrate or diminish the role played by those who make the dual effort. The vast majority of people who are councillors and Oireachtas Members put in a huge effort in terms of time and the number of meetings they attend. The increasingly complex nature and rising demands of local government require an enormous sacrifice from them. I can understand why people who have served time in local government are so attached to it. This legislation will be something of a wrench for them.