Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for all his work in this area. It is so important in supporting people going into local politics, attracting a more diverse group and keeping them. The Minister will be aware that while Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which is in my area, is the first with a 50:50 gender balance, two of its female councillors, namely, Councillors Lorraine Hall and Eva Dowling, have had babies since the election in 2019, because that is what people do. In Ms Hall’s case, there was no provision for her to be able to adapt; she simply had to cope with a newborn baby and the council meetings. Ms Dowling was able to have a pairing arrangement with Councillor Emma Blain but these arrangements are unsustainable. It does not just end at six months. As the Minister of State has identified, young families pose a difficulty for councillors. Some councillors are hoping to have the opportunity to have hybrid meetings, partly virtual and partly in person. It is great to hear the Department is supportive of that and a range of other measures.

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