SEANAD REPORT: The Bill to abolish the dual mandate of Oireachtas and local authority membership was passed by 31 votes to 12.
A Labour attempt to delay implementation until 2009 was unsuccessful. The only amendment adopted at report stage was one tabled by the Government.
The Minister for Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, said it had been brought forward in response to concerns voiced by members earlier in the debate.
It provided that when TDs or senators left the local government system their dealings with authorities at representational level would be secured.
Regulations rather than guidelines, to be made by the minister, would have the force of law. The general thrust of the regulations would be that local authorities should, as a matter of course, have in place systems and procedures to ensure that the kind of documentation available to councillors was also supplied to Oireachtas members.
"I would hope that, in addition to the regulations, common sense by everyone concerned would inform the operation of the new arrangements. You can only legislate so far," the Minister said.
He had no doubt that as time progressed in the years beyond the ending of the dual mandate the roles of local and national representatives would evolve further.
Indeed, they would evolve to a point where the focus of local government matters was likely to be of much less significance to members of the Oireachtas operating with a fully developed committee system. Mr Cullen disclosed that he had accepted an invitation by the Taoiseach to chair the review of the Seanad.