Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We expect to have heads of the Bill, that is, the general scheme of the Bill, in the next couple of weeks. Obviously, that will have to go to the committee chaired by the Deputy. We hope to have the legislation enacted, realistically early in the new year, but if we get it done before then that would be great.

I am a big fan of remote working and blended working. It is part of the future. Part of the dividend from this pandemic is that we will not have people crowded into offices in the way they used to be. The office will be a different place. It will be a more creative place. Most people, or many people at least, will work sometimes from home, sometimes from the office and possibly sometimes from a remote hub in a small village or town. Of course, services have to be provided and the work has to be done. However, so long as services are provided and the work is done, we want people to have maximum choice and flexibility around that.

The return to the office begins next week and the message we are sending out to employers is that it will be phased. The public service will lead by example in that regard. It might initially involve people returning to the office for only one day or two days a week. People who can successfully work from home should be facilitated to continue to do so if that is their wish.

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