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

I thank Members for their very kind wishes, for the work the House has done in assisting me in trying to deliver on some of these key proposals, such as the Moorhead report and, obviously, the Bill before us, and for ensuring the Bill's swift passage through the House. I will refer to a few points that were raised.

In response to Senator Dolan, the draft regulations provide for a review mechanism. It is very important we would review the operation of the mechanism and see how it is working. As I said to Senator Moynihan, it is important we have that mechanism through issuing directions if we find that it is not operating in the spirit of the law. It was inserted to ensure that the views of the local authority member going on maternity leave would be taken into consideration in respect of the choice of the temporary substitute. Obviously, the temporary substitute will cease in his or her position when the member comes back from maternity leave. That is what women wanted. When we had all the women councillors convened in that group they said they wanted choice and flexibility. That is why we have given them the option of either a temporary substitute or support to carry out their role.

We now have remote voting in our local authority meetings whereby local authority members can log in and vote remotely. We brought that in through the county development plan process during the global pandemic. That too is now a key reform mechanism that councillors can use to support them as they go about their duties.

Senator Buttimer is very much correct about the huge obligations now on the councillor to discharge his or her functions. Many will know from doing the county development plans how difficult it is to try to comply with all the regulations and responsibilities now placed on local authority members.

In response to Senator Currie, I am absolutely confident about the scope in Article 28 of the Constitution for the role of local government to be maintained. It gives the Government significant legislative scope to try to ensure that it is maintained. As a female councillor goes on maternity leave, the option of having a temporary substitute fill in for her maintains that service to the public and to citizens. That is very important.

As for policies, we have a huge journey still to continue in trying to bring in more supports for councillors. Many of the Senators have raised issues specific to ensuring that family-friendly places exist in our local authorities. That is very important.

I will continue to work with the House in trying to bring about those incremental changes. I appreciate that the pace of change and of the introduction of these supports can be frustrating sometimes, but we will do our very best to get as much as we can done in the time I am honoured to hold the role I hold.