James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I support the amendment. Current policy adds insult to injury in that one law is applied to one forum and another to the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Minister's party has some of its local authority members running for Europe and corporations and county councils. This is not a sensible approach and contradicts previous legislation. People need conformity in regard to legislation and this is hypocritical, to say the least.

It highlights the first sign of cracks in the Government. If Members were forced to resign from Parliament, the Government would not be confident of winning the resulting by-elections. I ask the Minister to give the system continuity.