Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the proposals in this motion, but we have to be sensible and sensitive in how we deal with this area. The opportunity to highlight the positives of working from home is really presented here. Remote and flexible working can offer a renewed vigour to the Government plans, if the Government has the plans. The post offices have been floundering for decades and the Government has been promising everything and giving them nothing.

I put it to the Minister of State that there are issues here for smaller employers. We must think of those at any time. It is fine to pass legislation, and I hear people in here with stronger and stronger demands, and complaining about lobbying, but we must think of the smaller employers as well. I salute the workers and I am self-employed myself. I employ quite a number of people and we have excellent staff relations, but in my business people could not work from home. Many businesses just could not do it because physically it would not be possible, as we work with machinery and everything else. We must be reasonable here. It is grand in theory but we must understand that it does not always work.

We have a community house at An Caisleán Nua for which I thank South Tipperary County Council. At the time I was chair of that voluntary housing board and we set up a community house with excellent facilities. We have given this space to different people for remote working during Covid. The Covid pandemic has changed everything as we know it, but we must be sensible. We just cannot keep ushering in legislation through here with no analysis on the impact it might have on employers. I am sure the Minister of State is listening and has written to them, and especially now when they are on their knees trying to deal with the cost of living, the cost of oil, the cost of insurance, the cost of electricity and the cost of everything.

Legislation is fine and dandy but we need a balance here. While we need to remember mol an óige agus tiochfaidh sí, we must also praise and support employers because we do not do that much of the time. We must also nurture and look after the workers. A fair day's pay for a fair day's work is important. We must be sensible and understanding about this issue. We must deal with people face to face, sit down around a table and discuss what is possible.

I will raise the issue of traffic jams on the N24 and many other roads. Our carbon footprint has been mentioned. The roads are clogged up. I travelled on the N11 this morning and it was crazy with traffic. We must think about the impact on our carbon footprint and the costs for people who are going to work. We must look at all those issues in the round. As I said, this is sensitive legislation and must be dealt with sensitively. It must cover everybody.

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