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

The right to request remote working is part of a broader Government vision to make remote working a permanent feature of Ireland's workforce in a way that can be to the benefit of everyone - economically, socially and environmentally. The commitment to introduce legislation to underpin an employee's right to request remote work was made in the national remote work strategy published last January.

The Covid pandemic has certainly brought remote working centre stage and work on this important legislation is well advanced.

The Bill will set out a clear framework to facilitate remote and blended work options insofar as possible. It will also ensure that when an employer declines a request, there are stated reasons for doing so. Remote working will not work for everyone, so we will need to take a balanced approach with the legislation. However, the overriding principle should be to facilitate workers' choices, provided that services are delivered and the work is done.

On 20 August, I published the views of members of the public and stakeholder groups on the legislation. The summary report of the 175 submissions is available on my Department's website. Informed by the public consultation and a review of international best practice, the drafting of the general scheme of the Bill has commenced and I will seek Cabinet approval for the drafting of the heads of the Bill in the next few weeks. The Bill will be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible thereafter. The intention is to introduce a mechanism for employees to request remote working that is fair but does not place an undue burden on employers. In the meantime, we will also continue to provide up-to-date advice, guidance and information on all aspects of remote working for workers and employers.

On 28 June, I launched my Department’s Making Remote Work campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the advice and information available from the Government to help workers and employers facilitate more remote and blended working. This includes guidance for employers and workers and a remote working checklist, which are available on my Department’s website.

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