Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure it would. I do not know if Dr. Coates said during Covid or back in 2014 because it was in 2014 that I sat on that body, not during Covid. The key point is that while there have been reports and there has been a lot of talk, we have not seen any substantial change in the numbers of persons with a disability in the workplace. It remains a fact, as I understand it, that Ireland has the highest number of jobless disabled persons among EU member states. The same applies to lone parents in that we have the highest number of jobless lone parents in the EU. I am hearing that there is a lot of talk but is there real action to ensure we bring those who want to work but cannot do so into the workplace? I need to address that point to the Department in respect of the work its doing.

Target 12.6 features a long list of legislative actions. It refers to the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which incorporated the Right to Request Remote Work Bill, and states the enactment is expected early in 2023. It is now late 2023. The Bill was enacted in April this year. The Department has a vested interest, or perhaps not, in seeing this Act in force. It is still not in force, having not been commenced. What is the Department doing to ensure the right to request remote work and the right to flexible work is actually available to workers? At this time, the legislation has yet to be commenced.