Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

During Covid, it was agreed across the EU that teleworkers could work from home all the time and remain paying their social insurance contributions in the state of their employer. This temporary agreement has now ended and a new voluntary framework agreement for teleworking has been drafted by the administrative council, which is responsible for co-ordinating social security across the EU. The agreement, which EU member states can voluntarily sign up to, allows teleworking rates to increase from 25% to 50% without having to change where a person's social security contributions are paid.

The UK has indicated that it will not sign this agreement and so it will not relate to those working across the Border. I am on the Border too, like Deputy Ó Murchú. The truth is that most workers on the Border want to avail of our social welfare supports and child benefit because they are much higher here than on the other side. I can understand why they want to do that. The UK has indicated that it is not going to sign this agreement and so it will not apply to those working along the Border. My officials are consulting with other Departments on whether Ireland should sign up. However, even if Ireland does, it will not apply where the other state is a non-signatory. Given the UK's stated position, it will not apply in the situation the Deputy is talking about.

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