Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I am not saying this will happen but if it is made a full-time job it will be the case. That would not be a good move.

There is also the financial implication. It is not financially feasible to say to the public that we have 1,000 full-time paid politicians as opposed to 166 Deputies and 60 Senators. That would be totally unacceptable from the general public's point of view at a time when there is an embargo on public service appointments. If, to make it financially feasible, the Minister is suggesting that the number of local authority members be reduced I would find that unacceptable.