James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Caoláin is correct. The six months proviso has been removed. I do not have an issue with the six months proviso being included but I would need to take more advice on that. We will come back to it at Report Stage.

The point of this was to ensure that the shorter absences are covered without leaving it open-ended where, for example, the person could be gone for a year and that somebody would be acting up for a year.