Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

There is an unfair provision preventing a person transferring from central to local government. This does not happen in other areas of government. We should not prevent a person in central Government standing in local government elections and vice versa, even if it means that he or she has to give up a seat. Otherwise we are implying that local government is not as important as central Government, which is not the case. A person should have a choice.

The wording of the legislation suggests that a Member of the Oireachtas will have to give up his or her seat before running in the next local elections. I believe that is how it will be interpreted legally and how a returning officer will interpret it. If I were running in a local election, I would have to give up my seat in the Seanad, cause a by-election and take the risk that I would not be elected. However, it would be reasonable to allow Members run without having to forfeit their seats.