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

My view is that they should be but that would obviously be at the request of the council. The local authority is the key decision-maker on what positions any elected member holds at any time, by resolution of the council. In terms of good faith, it would be hoped the positions of a councillor who is on maternity leave would fall into the place of an individual who is providing a role as a substitute and giving voice to that councillor's community.