Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I entirely accept that there is a need for a balance and that there are jobs that cannot be done from home. Nobody is suggesting an absolute right. Again, I return to the point that inasmuch as there is a presumption, it seems to lie more strongly with the employer than the employee. It is important that workers be well protected in this regard. While the Bill is at heads stage, there is a bit of detail.

We will be waiting for a while for the Bill to be passed. In the interim, workers are being recalled to work on-site, in several instances against their wishes. We have a cost-of-living crisis and a fuel crisis, which is enormous for commuters, yet we are forcing workers to drive to their workplaces, incurring huge costs. If work duties can be performed from home and a worker wishes to work from home, that should be supported. Will the Government, in the absence of the legislation, encourage working from home by way of advice so workers can do so? This is incredibly important in any event, particularly given the cost-of-living and fuel crises.

See this speech in context