I ask Senators to bear in mind that Ministers and Ministers of State are debarred from local authority membership, as are MEPs, certain EU office holders, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, judges, gardaí, Army personnel, senior civil servants and others. Is anyone seriously suggesting that all of these people should now be prepared to enter the local government system in 2004? There is a good precedent. A body of work has been built over time.