Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that the Minister will consider the matter and maybe return to it on Report Stage. I wish to highlight the fact that there would be issues concerning remuneration and entitlement. Also, I do not like the heading as the provision refers to incapacity. The text is probably better but not, in my view, completely acceptable either because the heading is "Temporary Incapacity of Chairperson". Also, it states, "where the chairperson is for any reason temporarily unable" as opposed to unavailable.

Let us say a chairperson was on maternity leave for a period of six months and, therefore, was unable to carry out the functions or the statutory functions assigned to the chairperson. A new chairperson or acting chairperson would be more appropriate language and he or she would be assigned to carry out those functions. It is not a case that a chairperson is unable; it is that he or she is unavailable. I ask that the Minister and his officials look at the section for Report Stage.