Róisín Garvey (Green Party)
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The discussion is very interesting. There has been a swift change because all of a sudden we have gone from having no remote working to having a discussion on a four-day week. The work that the organisations are doing on this matter is great. It is important that the work is done well and that there is no narrative about two sides. It is unhelpful to the discussion for Senator Gavan to ask to hear from both sides because we all want good quality working rights for workers and we all want productivity. We all want happy employees and increased productivity if the four-day week is to work. That is the commonality. We need to make sure the debate is not polarised. We all want what is best.

It is brilliant that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications have agreed to a trial because a four-day working week is a relatively new concept. We had to fight to get remote working of any kind in the programme for Government and we were given a rate of 20%. Remote working is a very new concept in Ireland and we are going from that to a four-day week. For that reason, I suggest that Mr. O'Connor must bear with the system. In reality, we all would prefer if a four-day week were introduced in the morning but things do not work that quickly. It is excellent that a trial will start in January and it is most important that we await the outcome. From what the witnesses have said, it seems that the trial will show that a four-day week is very effective. There has been no research done in Ireland in this regard. That work must happen first before we can jump forward in any direction.

I know that Mr. Callinan had to leave but I am interested in learning whether the teachers' unions have sought a four-day week because I have not heard that such a request has been made. I had a meeting with Ms Cox and Mr. O'Connor. I appreciate that a four-day working week is a very exciting concept in general terms but I contend that it must be done in a way that works and that nobody - employees or employers - takes the piss out of it. We must have structures to support everybody.

I am not sure what the ask is outside of the trial. If we have never done a four-day week in Ireland, we must start with a trial. If a trial proves that a four-day week is useful and good, the next step is to conduct a trial in the public sector. It will be interesting to see the uptake in terms of the trial. I presume that Mr. O'Connor and his organisation will be involved in the forthcoming trial.

I think the call was put out in July and it is now closed. Do our guests have information on the uptake? I do not have it to hand. It is great that mentoring and advice will be supplied because this is going to be a super programme we can extend throughout the country, although we will have to tread carefully and do it right.

In January, the Government will bring forward a Bill regarding a right to request remote working, which is definitely a step in the right direction. Having worked in Leinster House, what I have learned is that just because there is a great idea, that does not mean it can happen overnight. Unfortunately, it has to happen slowly but surely, with trials and tests. This is a national issue. We have great stories from individual businesses such as Ms Cox's that have done very well, but when we want something to happen at a national level, we have to do it with care. That is why the trial is really important. I am not sure how we can progress until we have the results from the trial but it is very exciting.