Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 4:

In paragraph (c), in page 4, to delete lines 39 to 47 and in page 5, to delete lines 1 to 18.

It is totally illogical to ban the dual mandate for those who relinquished council seats last year while not leading by example and applying the same practice to Dáil Members who will be elected to the European Parliament in June, if that is the case. It is very convenient for the Government of the day if there are no by-elections. While I realise that such Members will have to give up their seats at the next general election, there may be three years up to that election during which they can occupy seats in both the Oireachtas and the European Parliament. This is illogical and inconsistent with Government policy regarding the dual mandate in so far as it affects members of the local authorities who are also Oireachtas Members.

The then Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Noel Dempsey, first attempted to introduce the abolition of the dual mandate during the tenure of the last Government, but was unsuccessful because the Independents held the Government to ransom. The current Minister, Deputy Cullen, went ahead and introduced legislation, the Local Government Act, which finally paved the way for Oireachtas Members to leave councils. Despite the controversy at the time, most Members have vacated their council seats, with very few exceptions. The current situation is illogical and inconsistent with Government policy. It is unfair to introduce reform at one level while not completing the roll-out in regard to Oireachtas Members who go to Brussels. I am particularly interested to hear the Minister's reply.