Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The category of a public servant is much wider in the legislation than the category of Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the European Parliament or holders of qualifying office. The very specific reference to them creates the break that allows them to continue to function as not new entrants for future purposes. That is my understanding of these sections.

The Senator also mentioned the secondment arrangements. Current and former Oireachtas Members if re-elected will not be new entrants. For example, in the unlikely event that Senator O'Toole were to lose his seat in the National University of Ireland panel as a result of the reform of the Seanad he could still then contest the following general election and become a Deputy.