Dual mandate ban set to be defeated

The long-running effort by the Minister for the Environment to ban TDs from sitting on local authorities is set to be defeated…

The long-running effort by the Minister for the Environment to ban TDs from sitting on local authorities is set to be defeated this week, following a final ultimatum by the four Independent TDs.

Last night, senior Government figures conceded the Minister, Mr Dempsey, now has little choice but to drop the clause from the Local Government Bill, which begins its second stage hearing in the Dail this week. However, the Government is keen to save Mr Dempsey's blushes by having the concession made during the committee stage hearing later this month.