Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. On 31 August 2021, the Government published Reframing the Challenge: Continuing our Recovery and Reconnecting, containing updated guidance to take effect from 20 September 2021, as part of a gradual and careful reopening process in advance of the further planned relaxation of restrictions on 22 October.

A sub-group of the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which is the forum for high-level dialogue between Government, trade union and employer representatives on matters related to the labour force, has also published an additionalguidance note on the gov.iewebsite on returning safely to the workplace from 20 September to assist businesses and employees.

The successful roll-out of the vaccination programme has allowed the advice on the need to work from home to be revised from 20 September. As a result, an update of the work safely protocol with some minor changes is being finalised and will be published in the coming days. All employers and business managers who are considering a phased and staggered return to the workplace over coming weeks should familiarise themselves with the updated protocol. As workers return to workplaces, the role of the lead worker representative is particularly important, and this is emphasised in both the protocol and in the new LEEF guidance note published last week. All workers, regardless of the sector of the economy in which they work, are covered by the provisions of the work safely protocol and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to continue to work closely with employers and trade unions to ensure appropriate guidance is in place for this next phase of reopening.

The Deputy has asked about good communication. I wish to emphasise that since Covid has hit these shores, we have been very lucky to have good engagement through LEEF and with the employee representative bodies through the unions and employers. We have been able to bring forward the work safety protocol and update it on numerous occasions. Most businesses have found it to be an extremely useful guide, as have their employees. Hopefully, that engagement can continue in the next few days as we move on to the next phase.

See this speech in context