Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Bill but there are a number of issues with it. This should be a good news story but there are too many flaws in it. As an employer, I believe it is too heavily stacked against the employees in many cases. That can be noted from the first contribution. It gives rise to too many questions and too much uncertainty. Companies naturally need to monitor their employees by some method. What is proposed is a little over the top. I will give a few examples. At this stage a number of issues arise. For example, will employees be entitled to recoup costs from their employer for setting up work from home stations in terms of equipment, including laptops and printers, and for the energy costs incurred? A major issue in west Galway is the roll-out of broadband, which leaves people there at a significant disadvantage. Has consideration been given to the fact that many employees do not have access to the required broadband standard, which would leave them at a significant disadvantage?

While the past 18 months to two years have been different, from speaking to employees in Galway, I would have concerns about support for employees working from home full time with respect to mental health supports. Larger employers or companies are rolling out teams, including a mix of mental health aid with occupational health nurses and voluntary representatives as a point of contact. I would be concerned to ensure an appropriate format for that would be in place for employees and that there would be an element of mental health assistance and better supports for them. Does Mr. Mulligan consider more needs to be done for the employee and that it is too easy for an employer to refuse an employee's request to work from home on any grounds the employer might want to give? I would raise the issue of the well-being of employees and he might address that point first.