2.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, an office holder shall be entitled to maternity, paternity, parental and adoption, leave for the same periods and subject to the same conditions as apply in the case of an employee under the 1996 Act or any regulations made under that Act.
(2) An office holder who exercises any entitlement to leave conferred by sub-paragraph (1) shall, in consultation with a responsible person or authority, use all reasonable endeavours to make arrangements for the duties of the office to be performed by another person or persons during the period of leave.