Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the four-day week, interesting results arose from trials in the UK that took place between June and December 2022. I understand that a similar trial took place here and that the reporting back on it is overwhelmingly positive. The UK trial showed a drop in emissions of 10%, mostly due to employees reducing their weekly commute. A trial in the United States in 2022 resulted in a 27% drop in business emissions. Both studies showed employees engaged in low-carbon activities on their days off, such as, for example, hiking and other hobbies. The UK trial showed a significant drop in emissions relating to data sharing and storage, primarily due to the drop in internal communications. Have we looked at this, specifically relating to the carbon emissions benefit? I am not just talking about remote working; this is four-day week stuff. If we reduce carbon emissions because the individual is not commuting every day, added to the potential for the person not to be working in an office full time, but to be remote as well, and the productivity increases shown by these trials, is it something we need to look at seriously?