Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator's points are very valid and well made. We are hoping to bring in legislation in relation to sick leave as well, with the explicit wording "will be absent due to illness or in good faith" to cover other areas the Senator referred to. This is important because if someone is undergoing chemotherapy or is very ill and has a protracted absence, it is very unfair that the council would have to give resolution to accommodate them.

The point made about the substitute is very important. Prior to us engaging in drafting a general scheme, there was discourse around changing to a six-month period as then maternity leave would be there for women. However, as the Senator rightly points out, if for argument's sake, a council is going through a material contravention, needs a two thirds majority and the vote is very tight in their respective communities, a woman on maternity leave without that legislative framework underpinning that absence or without the option of a substitute could feel under pressure to attend the chamber. What we have done here is provided choice for women so that they can chose what suits them best as they go about caring for their new infant.