
Thomasina Connell will benefit from a recent change in the Local Government laws.
The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council will be the first councillor in Ireland to be able to take maternity leave.
Fine Gael's Thomasina Connell, on the Portlaoise MD, will benefit from a recent change in the Local Government laws.
That legislation, passed on Thursday, went through just days after her son was born.
Councillor Connell, originally from Ballybrittas, says this change removes one of the barriers that was putting women off going into politics.