I cannot say this issue has never arisen because it has, but there is a wide range of arrangements at present in operation. All Dálaí have been comprised of a large range of people from various walks of life, from the public sector generally and the private sector. In the Civil Service there are procedures whereby one must resign or there are arrangements for secondment within the private sector and so on which are normally negotiable.
The difficulty arises in the non-public service sector. Normally legislation would not seem to be necessary. I accept that if it was to become a problem, or if a problem was irresolvable and people were not allowed to participate in active politics because of these difficulties we would have to look at it. As I said to Deputy De Rossa the last time, if we were to look at the legislation which is there we would be looking at Acts like the Unfair Dismissals Act and it would not be most appropriate to try to amend it. We would be accepting a certain fate for an individual going up for election, and that would be the wrong course. I have heard suggestions on this and in all my years in the House I recall it being a problem once only. For one problem I am not too sure that we should review the legislation. I am prepared to listen to any suggestions the Deputy has.