Waterford councillors have been defending their attendance records.
A recent newspaper report highlighted that only three councillors in Waterford attended all their council meetings in 2020.
However, they say there is no opportunity to record the reason for absences or provision for sick leave or maternity leave.
Speaking at last week's re-convened February Plenary Meeting of the local authority, Mayor Damien Geoghegan said it wasn't a fair representation:
"The vast majority of all of my colleagues on Waterford City and County Council are all hardworking councillors, out every day working on behalf of your community.
"You shouldn't be judged if you do happen to miss a meeting from time to time due to an illness or due to a bereavement. I would make that point today and I hope what I say today will make it into the papers also because any decent or fairminded person would understand," according to Cllr Geoghegan.
Cllr Mary Roche said that at present there is no maternity leave for councillors, and during her time as a council representative she gave birth to her two children.
"There is no facility available for maternity leave so you could be in the labour ward and you'd be recorded as missing a meeting," Cllr Roche told the Plenary meeting.
While Cllr Tom Cronin made the point that most of the councillors' work is not conducted during meetings:
"90% of our work is done between Monday and Friday in the council. I've been onto three different departments in the councillor already today and I didn't have to attend any meetings.
"I've also been in touch with senators, ministers - and that's not calculated into it either," Cllr Cronin said.
