The Dual Mandate system, allowing TDs and Senators to also serve as councillors, was abolished by the Local Government Amendment Act of 2003, in time for local elections the following year.
But that is not stopping Independent TD Verona Murphy from keeping her ear close to the ground and her finger on the parochial pulse by taking the unusual step of attending county council and district council meetings in the county, which have recently been held on Microsoft Teams.
Members of the public are entitled to attend local authority meetings by prior arrangement with officials and some people avail of the opportunity if there is a particular issue they are interested in.