Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the update on that work. It is such welcome work and it is so important. There has been a big change for council staff. We are hearing reports from councillors to the effect that, in many ways, they have been even more accessible in recent months because people have been sharing mobile phone numbers and so on. That has made connectivity much easier, rather than leaving messages at desk phones and so on. It has been possible to resolve many little problems very quickly, which is good. If we can continue with this, it will be an important part of providing more flexible working arrangements.

I recognise the important right to disconnect. We should not be overburdening council staff or councillors. They do need a right to disconnect and do need to have the privacy of their family home and family life because everybody needs a balanced working environment. Everything we can do to create flexibility in work, whether it is by allowing one to work for two days at home and three in the office, or vice versa, will be really important.

See this speech in context