Mr Michael Ring (Fine Gael) repeated his determination to challenge the constitutionality of the Bill ending the dual mandate if the President, Mrs McAleese, does not refer it to the Supreme Court.
The Bill, known as the Local Government Bill 2003, is expected to be passed by the House next week. Under the measure, TDs and senators will no longer be able to be members of local authorities.
Mr Ring said he had a leading legal team in place.
"If the President does not refer this to the Supreme Court next week, I will call a press conference and reveal my team, one of whom is a constitutional lawyer," he added. "There is also another lawyer of high reputation. I will win the case and then it will be up to the political parties to make the decision."
He said he had great respect for the President. "I ask her to refer this legislation to the Supreme Court when she signs it into law to get a judgment on it."
"There is great concern among Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers, as well as the Independents, about the constitutionality of this measure. However, if the Supreme Court approves it, I will be first to acknowledge I was wrong. It would not be my first time being wrong in politics."
He added that what the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, was doing was wrong. "He is taking us away from our natural constituents," Mr Ring added. "The Dáil is not like the British parliament, where the MP never meets his constituents."
Mr Ciaran Cuffe (Green Party, Dún Laoghaire) said his party applauded the principle of the Bill. "Nonetheless, we are concerned at the dropping of directly elected mayors," he added. "We believe such a move would be a great step forward for towns and cities around the country."
The Labour spokesman on the environment, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said the Bill was pathetic. "It is certainly not local government reform," he added.
