Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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Senator Currie made some very important points about what is possible with remote and flexible working. Unless we see substantial change, this landmark legislation, as the Department describes it, will be a lost opportunity, especially given that Ireland is the member state with the highest share of jobless lone parents and jobless persons with a permanent disability in the European Union. It is important that we use this Bill to encourage, incentivise and nudge employers into taking up remote and flexible working. If, when we see the Bill, it in any way approximates to the heads we have here, this will be very much a lost opportunity.

In that context, I want to ask about the timeline that was mentioned earlier. I understand there is an ambition to have the Bill passed through all Stages before the summer recess. At my count, that give us 18 or 19 weeks, which should be plenty of time. As we have seen, however, we still do not have a sick pay Act, despite the Government talking about that for a year and a half at this stage. When can we expect to see the Bill? I believe it will need time and cannot be rushed through the Dáil and Seanad. If the witnesses cannot provide an answer today, the committee needs to hear as soon as possible what precise timeline the Department has with regard to progressing this legislation over the coming weeks.