Minister for the Environment John Gormley has revealed that sitting TDs, Senators and MEPs will be allowed to contest the forthcoming Dublin mayoral elections.
However, if they were succesful, they would have to stand down from their position, he said.
The Minister has insisted the poll will be held later this year, probably in the autumn.
Mr Gormley said today the Local Government (Dublin Mayor and Regional Authority) Bill 2010 contains draft provisions in relation to disqualifications from being elected Mayor. He said these draft provisions are based on current local government law in relation to the dual mandate.
Mr Gormley said the Bill, when published, will not preclude members of the Oireachtas or of the European Parliament from standing for election.
“However, an Oireachtas member or an MEP would be required to step down from that position if elected to the position of Mayor for Dublin,” he said.
The Minister has invited Opposition party leaders and their spokespersons on local government to a meeting to discuss the proposed Bill.
He said he was “happy to examine any positive measures suggested by the Opposition to improve the legislation, and would urge them to take the opportunity to engage in creating a new position to provide leadership and vision for Dublin”.
Earlier this week, Mr Gormley rejected claims that the office of mayor would be toothless because of a lack of a discretionary budget.
Candidates tipped to contest the election include former taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell and Labour TD Ruairí Quinn. Others include the former Lord Mayor of the city Eibhlin Byrne and Tallaght-based backbencher Charlie O'Connor, both of Fianna Fáil.
New Dublin South Inner City councillor Mannix Flynn is also being mooted as a possible candidate.
A People Before Profit Alliance councillor and a leader of the Socialist Workers Party, Brid Smith, is the only declared candidate so far.