Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One could get the equivalent of 51,000 votes at a count. I tried in 1992 and 1997 and succeeded in 2002. It took effort. My first time walking through the doors of Leinster House was in 1977. I want to be clear - entering the Seanad is a difficult task. It is difficult to get elected from the university panel, where the numbers are high and tremendous people have been elected. On our panels, we are nominated by nominating bodies and elected by councillors. As the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows, persuading those councillors is a major achievement for any Senator. Nominees are scrutinised carefully by them.

For this reason, it is regrettable that the link between local government and the Oireachtas will be broken. When the dual mandate was ended, Senators should have had the option to run for the Seanad and a local authority. I accept that it is better to have such a separation in the Dáil. In 1982, I was a councillor in Roscommon, the Minister of State with responsibility for posts, telegraphs and transport and a Deputy.