Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 35 and 36 relate to the proposed amendment to section 19A of the Local Government Act 2001. I have a query on this. It states that where a local authority member has a temporary absence, he or she shall not perform any functions as a member unless and until he or she returns to office. What is the rationale for this amendment? I am thinking of situations where members may go on maternity leave but may begin, just before they officially return to work, on constituency cases or clinics, or where there may be some crossover. Can the Minister of State clarify whether the restriction only applies to official functions as councillors, such as attending and voting at meetings, or does it attempt to go after all functions, including more informal functions such as clinics? On reading this amendment, it appears that to apply to, say, party members and particular party policy in terms of how people engage with their role if they are on official absence. I have a concern about inserting it there, especially in the case, for example, of an Independent councillor easing themselves back to work after and not yet fully recommitting after an illness. What is the rationale for that amendment and how does the Minister of State envisage it working in practice?