Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have two specific questions on matters that we have not considered sufficiently and two Deputies wish to ask some questions, as part of the second round, after which I suggest we finish.

Recommendation No. 36 states:" Introduce a statutory right to reasonable access to flexible working." The citizens' assembly was very clear that it wanted to see a statutory right to reasonable access to flexible working. Last week, the committee heard ICTU criticise that the Government's legislation as insufficiently broad since it simply talks about remote working. Can the legislation be expanded to cover more forms of flexible working?

I wish to ask another question concerning an issue raised by ICTU last week on the EU work-life balance directive has a narrow focus as the categories it describes are carers and parents of children up to the age of eight. Again, ICTU requested that provision is expanded as part of the legislative approach to flexible working. I ask the Minister to comment after Deputies Clarke and Cronin ask their questions.