Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Ms Cox's comments regarding working within the resources of the company or the State, with each employee being given an option. That is the message. It could be set up on a Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday basis, with productivity remaining the same or even increasing. That is a significant message for all companies.

I have a number of concerns around this. There are certain sectors or areas, like healthcare, where it may not be possible to implement a four-day week and in that context, we could be in danger of creating a two-tier workforce. We must be conscious of that. That said, I welcome the concept and believe it would work well in places like Galway city. However, in terms of nurses and doctors and the education sector, for example, we must look at it from an overall perspective.