Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I wish to respond briefly to the Minister's points. We are not making the break between local government and national politics because we are allowing councillors to run for election in national politics. It is a one-sided break and that is unfair. It is not unforeseeable that somebody would wish to transfer from national to local politics, particularly people who have come in under this regime as it stands. The Minister says we can make that choice but he is not letting us do so. The way in which the legislation is worded will not allow us make that choice.

People go from the European Parliament to the Dáil and this has happened in the case of members of the Minister's party. It is not inconceivable that a person would change from the larger level of participation to a smaller local pool. The Minister is betraying an idea that local government is somehow lesser. If it came to the crunch, I would consider going for the local elections if I had the choice and making the move. If I give up my seat in this House the present legislation allows the Government to fill my seat and that is a fundamental unfairness in the system.