End of the dual mandate Many TDs and senators barred from standing in the local elections are being replaced by relative. Marie O'Halloran spoke to some of them
Some 102 TDs and 25 senators held a dual mandate with a local authority which had to be given up for the local elections.
In Fianna Fáil, 52 TDs and senators held a dual mandate and of that number, 15 had relatives co-opted to their council seats. Of Fine Gael's 28 "dual mandate" seats, six were taken up by family members. The Labour Party has 14 TDs and four senators affected by the dual mandate, with five relatives taking up council seats.
The strongest opponent of the ban on the dual mandate, Fine Gael TD Mr Michael Ring says family members of Oireachtas members should be barred from co-option to their local authority seats. The Mayo deputy, who took an unsuccessful High Court challenge against the law prohibiting TDs and senators from also being local councillors, now says the legislation did not go far enough.
"If they were really serious about ending the dual mandate the legislation should have specifically said that wives, brothers, sisters, daughters sons or any family member should not be allowed to hold their seat.
"I didn't allow that to happen in my family. I have two or three brothers who could easily have stood. One of my brothers would probably get three times the vote I'd get, but I wouldn't let him go ... My wife works in the office here. She could have run as well," Mr Ring said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie Ardagh, son of Seán Ardagh TD, who was co-opted on to Dublin City Council, disagrees. "Just by being my father's son doesn't mean I should be excluded from running,"
Cllr Ardagh, who runs a telecoms business with his brother, says he has "a lot to add".
"I've a good work ethic I'm aware of what's going on in my constituency. I'm educated. I'm as qualified for the job as the next man."
He disagrees that his membership of the council is an unfair advantage to his father. "My dad doesn't need my help ... I may talk to him more than other councillors talk to their local TD but then we do share Sunday dinner and play the occasional game of golf."
But Ms Orla Leyden, daughter of Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden, believes it's "common sense" that family members wouldn't be co-opted to a TD or senator's council seat.
A candidate for Roscommon County Council, she said she would not have been comfortable to be co-opted for six months before the election. The 31-year-old candidate works in community development, which, she says, is all about equality and "I don't think it makes sense" to put someone forward because they are a family member.
However, she disagrees with Mr Ring's suggestion that candidates should not be allowed to go forward just because they are related to a councillor. "You might have a well known name, but you have to work harder to convince the public."
Other children of Fianna Fáil politicians who are running include Gary O'Flynn, son of Cork North-Central TD Noel O'Flynn, Mark O'Keeffe, whose father is former minister of State Ned O'Keeffe, and Mary Fitzpatrick, daughter of Dublin Central TD Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick.
Fine Gael's Limerick West TD, Dan Neville, is replaced by his son, Tom, on Limerick County Council, and Fine Gael transport spokesman Denis Naughten's place on Roscommon County Council was taken by his brother, John, a farmer. Cllr Sinéad Connaughton (29) was co-opted six months ago to the Galway County Council seat held by her father, Paul Connaughton, Fine Gael TD for Galway East and she is a little uneasy about the co-option. "Since I was co-opted, the title of county councillor never sat right on my shoulders." But if elected she would have five years as a councillor and "I can't live in someone's shadow for five years".
When the secondary school teacher was selected she was the only candidate. "Anybody who was interested could have stood and there would have been a vote." She dismisses suggestions that nobody else would have stood because of her father. "In 11 days the public are going to choose, and if they don't vote for me, that's the answer."
The Labour Party says it would not discourage any member from putting forward candidates on the basis that they are related to an Oireachtas member. "It is up to the local organisation to decide who they think will best represent the party and the local area in the council."
Labour Senator Joanna Tuffy's father, Éamon Tuffy, replaced her on South Dublin County Council last September. He had previously contested local elections.
Senator Michael Brennan is the only PD Oireachtas member affected by the dual mandate who has been replaced by a family member. He quit Fianna Fáil just weeks ago after a selection convention row. His wife, Ms Rose Brennan, is contesting his seat in Limerick County Council.
It is Green Party policy to give up a local authority seat on election to the Dáil, and none of the replacements for the six TDs is a family member. Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris's daughter, Cllr Toireasa Ferris, replaced him on Kerry County Council.
Some Independent TDs are also affected by the dual mandate, including Wicklow TD Mildred Fox, whose brother, Christopher Fox, was co-opted to the council.