Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the speakers for coming in. We have seen significant progress in remote working over the past two years, helped in part by the pandemic. We have also seen the springing up of a large number of hubs across the country. We recently saw the opening of the co:worx hub in Edgeworthstown in County Longford. It is a wonderful initiative which is really going to help champion the cause of remote working.

It is important to point out that there are some people who still like to go into the workplace. This was borne out throughout Covid also. There are people who like the social aspect of going to work. While remote working is good and has many positive outcomes, there are people who still want to go into the workplace. We have to acknowledge them as well. One of the previous speakers was correct that the blended work pattern is now the second most important item when it comes to negotiating terms and conditions with an employer, after salary. There is no doubt that people in the main want the opportunity to work remotely.

The legislation is what it is. It is never going to please everybody. At the same time, we have to try to come to a point where we accommodate workers but also as many businesses as is humanly possible. We have to acknowledge that 96% of employers in Ireland employ fewer than 19 people. That is evident when I look out from my constituency office back home. I can see those small businesses first hand and know how challenging it is going to be for them to move to a remote working situation. It was suggested that there could be funding for businesses to help them move towards remote working. Could Ms Mangan expand on that?