David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. It is very nice to see the former Senator, Ms Margaret Cox, again. Almost 25 years ago, one of the first parliamentary questions I asked related to Sunday trading. Tom Kitt was the Minister in the previous Government. While in opposition, he brought forward a Bill to regulate Sunday trading and I was anxious to see whether the Bill would progress. Obviously, it did not because now we have trading seven days a week all around. As Deputy O'Reilly stated, things move on and change. This is a fascinating discussion. Of course, it is not a new idea. As Mr. O'Connor noted in his written submission, John Maynard Keynes mentioned it in the 1930s. I note that Richard Nixon spoke about it in 1956 as well, and so on. It has been around for a while.

Mr. O'Connor referred to the 100-80 model, whereby an employee works 80% of the hours previously worked but productivity stays at 100%. There are certain roles where that may not work. If a teacher or another worker in a classroom is giving 100% five days a week but then goes to four days, how can he or she be expected to produce 100% as was the case previously? The same applies in the case of nursing. If nurses are currently being paid for five days a week or whatever hours they work and are working at 100%, but their working hours go down to 80%, how can their productivity remain the same given that they are already at their limit? If the working time is reduced, how can productivity be increased in certain hands-on jobs such as that?

I note research carried out at Ohio State University and elsewhere that highlighted concerns relating to stress. If employees are producing the same output or, in some instances, as some of the presentations alluded to, more in less time, is there a risk of stress on the employees? Ms Cox referred to streamlining, cutting down on waste and so on but, for many people, work is enjoyable, a social outlet and rewarding. It is not always a drudge. Unfortunately, it is a drudge for some people but for many it is not. In England they now have a minister for loneliness because loneliness is becoming an issue there, as it is in Ireland, particularly for people who have retired and are at home all day. They have nothing to do and all day to do it. All present are aware of the growth in men's sheds and so on, where people find an outlet and social interaction. For many people, work provides that social interaction.

The idea of a four-day working week is fascinating. It has significant merit and I am delighted the Government has put money towards the research project. I will certainly take up the invitation relating to letting other companies know about it. We need to discuss this issue. The discussion today has been very good.

Mr. O'Connor referred to competition between employers and suggested that a four-day working week could be used as a competitive tool to attract workers to areas where it is difficult to get staff. Obviously, quality of life is important. At some stage, we should probably have a discussion on artificial intelligence and its role in the future because it is moving very fast indeed. Ms McElwee and others rightly stated that we are going through a paradigm shift at the moment that may have been forced or brought on by the pandemic in many ways. Many things are changing significantly and this is one of those things.