Nepotism is stifling democracy

IN theory, the ending of the dual mandate was trumpeted as allowing the flower of local democracy to flourish independently of the Dáil for the first time since the foundation of the State.

In reality, in the vast majority of cases, the dream has become something of a sick joke as, with few exceptions, the seats held so tenaciously by TDs on local councils will remain securely within the family circle.

In what can only be described as an Irish solution to an Irish problem, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and cousins are coming forward in droves to inherit grassroots power as Dáil deputies go through the motions of severing the umbilical cord with backyard politics.