Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the motion and recognise its importance. I compliment Senator Currie on her great knowledge of this issue, which she has raised for a number of years. From our point of view, the motion fulfils a programme for Government commitment in which it is specifically pledged to developing a strategy for remote working.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought hardship and loss in so many ways across Ireland. Perhaps one of the few bright spots to come from this hugely challenging period will be the development of remote working. Although the adoption of remote working was already increasing in Ireland, Covid-19, as Senators are all aware, has greatly accelerated this trend, making remote work a central part of the workplace today and, hopefully, the future. Research carried out last October found that 94% of participants would like to work remotely after the crisis. As has been outlined by previous speakers, remote working has the potential to make significant positive impacts by improving work-life balance for people across the country. In conjunction with the implementation of the national broadband plan, remote working will rejuvenate towns and villages throughout rural Ireland, whether in Galway or elsewhere. We all know villages that it will help bring back to live.

With remote working set to be a permanent feature in the workplace in Ireland, we need to ensure the transition happens in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The remote work strategy is built on three fundamental pillars, which will be bolstered by underpinning conditions. Pillar 1 is focused on creating an environment conducive to the adoption of remote work. As remote working is a new way of working, it will need new and different measures to be put in place to support it into the future, as the Minister of State will be aware. Changes to how and where people will work will have impacts on a number of different areas, such as the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, health and safety legislation and tax arrangements. The actions in this pillar are centred on supporting employers first of all, as well as employees.

Pillar 2 highlights the importance of the development and leveraging of remote work infrastructure to facilitate increased remote work adoption.Adequate infrastructure must be put in place to allow employers and employees to avail of remote working opportunities both at home and in hubs. The actions in this pillar are focused on development and investment in national hub infrastructure and the delivery of broadband nationally, both of which will be significant drivers in facilitating people to work remotely.

Pillar 3 is centred on maximising the benefits of remote work to achieve public policy goals. To achieve this, policymakers need to be aligned with a shared vision and supported by access to the most relevant data to inform evidence-based policy. The actions relating to this pillar will ensure that data from collaborative practices is used to best effect to achieve multiple policy goals. The three pillars are bolstered by underpinning conditions. These horizontal factors focus both on the promotion of remote working and best practice, as well as the skills need for its increased adoption. This section also highlights the opportunity that the public sector holds to lead by example and to demonstrate best practice to employers nationally.

Employers and employees will be obliged to give a great deal. It is not a divine right to work from home. The co-operation of both employers and employees will be needed. By progressing actions in each of the areas to which I have referred, the Government will realise the vision of this strategy to ensure that remote working will be a permanent feature of the workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits for everyone.

This is a welcome motion. I commend Senators Currie and McGahon on proposing and seconding it. It will be absolutely vital going forward. I have no doubt that it will receive the full support of the House.