Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The idea is very attractive and would be very popular but I feel a bit like the character in "Father Ted" who asks "Where's the catch?". The key to this is finding the 20% gain in productivity in the various sectors. What is the framework for delivering that productivity gain so that wages are not affected? As others have said, very small enterprises will struggle, as will 24-7 businesses and those that do not operate on a 40 hours per week basis. Traditionally, the concern has been that weaker or less organised sectors will get squeezed out. Is there a risk in moving away from the fixed working week, with overtime being required to be paid beyond that? If we move to something that does not have that sort of arrangement, are we jeopardising hard-won gains and pushing more into the Deliveroo-type economy? Those who are knowledge leaders can adapt to this while others will be left behind. Is this something for those who are well placed in businesses that have all of these traits while others will fall behind?

Mr. Callinan said the idea is not to make this compulsory. Some employers will see the benefit of this, and if the trials work, some will progress. What is the framework the witnesses are looking for from the State to bring this along? How do we ensure there is some level of equity for the sectors we have talked about like childcare, retail and so on, that need long hours and do not have the same capacity to produce the 20% improvement in productivity?

Do the witnesses see remote working as a step towards achieving these goals? Is remote working a toe in the water for employers that we can build on, rather than coming in with some regulatory requirement, if that is where this is heading? Do we suck it and see? Risks to sectors that would not cope with a compulsory regime clearly exist.