Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make two comments on the discussion. The general scheme of the Bill concerning maternity leave for councillors was with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage last week and is welcome. The important thing in that is when the guidelines come through, it is the councillor's ability to nominate the substitute, rather than the party having a role in it. With a co-option, the party has to issue a certificate. I do not think that would work for the substitute for maternity leave because of the close working relationship that would have to exist between the substitute and the person.

Second, Senator Warfield raised gender quotas at local level. It is important that we consider that over more than one term. On Dublin City Council, for example, some political parties have majority female or, in some cases, all female members for this term. Due to the legislation, a male quota could have to be brought in by such a party to reach 40% because they have been so successful. However, to embed knowledge and capacity, we need to do it over more than one term. We all know in politics that sometimes it is only in one's second term that one has the experience. At least, that is what I will tell voters at the next election.

I have two questions. On the UBI pilot, we have had some success with the scheme for artists. How far can we go with that? Is the Minister considering that as the pilot that is mentioned in the programme for Government. The second one was mentioned by Disabled Women Ireland. It concerns remote working legislation and the issue of reasonable accommodation by the employer. There was a suggestion that this legislation is weaker than what is currently in place in the provision of reasonable accommodation. Has the Minister considered that? Disabled Women Ireland has said the standard for reasonable accommodation for equipment at home is lower than that in the workplace. There might be a discrepancy between the new legislation and existing legislation, resulting in a lower standard of accommodation which the employer has to provide. I do not expect the Minister to respond here, but he might come back to me on it.