Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the delayed right to request flexible work law comes too late for many workers. What many want is to continue the flexible arrangements that were put in place. With the flexibility over the last two years, statistically more women were in full-time employment than ever previously, moving from part-time work to full-time work. This is an important factor in the Government's decision today. The Government has outlined 13 reasons whereby employers or bosses still have the upper hand. What has emerged from the Government does not take any account of the changed circumstances workers have had over the last two years. The power is still with the bosses. The idea that somebody can go to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, where there is a 15-month waiting time and no legal aid, is just a joke. Will the Taoiseach not guarantee workers, particularly women who have benefited hugely from this statistically, a real right to flexible work and continued flexible work into the future?

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