Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Labour Party very much supports Senator Chambers's call for a debate on what is being put in place for those in this country who suffer from endometriosis. As we know, it is a silent disease and imposes such a cost on young women in respect of their education and family and social life, in addition to so much else.

The issue I want to raise this morning relates to a discussion that has been going on for several days. It concerns the right to flexible work or to request flexible leave. At the weekend, we called for the right to flexible work because it is crucial to take account of the work arrangements that have evolved over the past two years. We have heard so much about the primacy of the contract of employment. For many who took up work prior to March 2020, the contract stipulates the office as the place of work. When the Leader was Minister for Social Protection, she introduced the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, which recognised that there can be a difference between what is in the contract of employment and the reality of worker's working week. We talked to a home health employee, somebody in retail and somebody in hospitality. They would have spoken to the Leader, the former Minister, about the need for banded hours. Those same principles can apply now in terms of recognising the arrangements that have evolved successfully over the past two years and that need to be recognised in the conversation. I am very disappointed with the Government's heads of Bill, published during the week. Of course, people will say I would say that. We take issue with the lack of a mechanism to appeal on grounds of refusal and with the effort the Government has made to set out 13 grounds for refusal. I would like to see a clear message go out to the effect that the Government needs to redraft the legislation. It is saying this morning that it is willing to accept amendments but I believe it needs to start afresh.

We are all clear as to why we need to promote flexible work, including for those from rural constituencies. It is to sustain and revive villages and towns and reduce the need for commuting and the financial and carbon costs associated with commuting. The promotion of flexible work would benefit women and those of us in this Chamber who are committed to trying to improve the lot of women in workplaces and ensure they hold on to their jobs and do not have to reduce their hours to part-time hours. The right to flexible work is crucial. I have been following the data for a while. We saw it confirmed by the Central Bank yesterday that the full-time employment of women increased during the pandemic.So many women have said to me they are able to manage their full-time work and those other responsibilities in their lives. If they have to be in the office for 9 a.m., they cannot do the school drop and everything else. We need to send a better message to those women in particular over the coming weeks that they will be supported in staying in their jobs and not having to drop full-time work. The legislative underpinning for this should be very positive and constructive, and it should incentivise employers to help women and all workers with caring responsibilities to stay in the workplace.