Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, his team, everybody involved in the sub-committee and all the councillors who worked with him on this Bill. I also thank the AILG and the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA. The Bill is progressive and will be really good for democracy. It will be particularly good for women in politics and will attract more women into politics.

I wish to raise an issue that I have raised here and in the Dáil Chamber. I ask the Minister of State to continue to engage with political parties. I think it would be a real shame if a woman who goes on maternity leave is co-opted by somebody her party chooses rather than one she chooses because, as I have emphasised before, the selection of a direct competitor would not make for a stress-free maternity leave.

Finally, I wish to ask a technical question on foot of an email former Deputy, now councillor, Joanna Tuffy sent to all Oireachtas Members. She is slightly concerned about the temporary substitute and a county councillor on leave because there could be almost like a dual mandate where two people fulfil the one role. From a technical perspective, what is the councillor referred to when the person is on leave and what is the substitute referred to? Are there technically two councillors for that period? If so, how is the matter dealt with?