Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »
Fri 04 Apr 2003Ending dual mandate positive, says Cullen
The ending of the dual mandate would allow local government to develop its own separate role within democracy for the first time since the foundation of the State, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, told the House.
"No longer will the conduct of council business be subject to such external constraints as parliamentary timetables. Nor should it be." Mr Cullen was introducing the Local Government Bill, which will end the dual mandate, whereby members of the Oireachtas can also be members of local authorities, from the local elections in the summer of 2004. Debate on the Bill continues today.
Choose a Subscription type - required
