The issue of dual membership of the European Parliament and the Oireachtas was raised during earlier debates on the Bill. From the European Parliament elections in 2004 an Act of the European Union provides that the office of Member of the European Parliament shall be incompatible with that of a member of a national parliament. However, a temporary derogation is provided for Oireachtas Members elected to the European Parliament in 2004. Such Members may retain both seats until the subsequent Dáil or Seanad elections, at which time the ban will kick in. The derogation is due to the different time frames between our national elections and those to the European Parliament. Therefore, Ireland is not alone in moving inexorably in this direction, the European Union is doing the same.