Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 19, the Right to Flexible Work Bill 2022, be taken before No. 1. Those of us who talk to people in our communities know of the enormous demand for flexible work arrangements among those who work and those who want to work but cannot work because of various structural barriers in their lives such as the cost of childcare and inflexibility of hours. This particularly applies to those who are lone parents or have a disability. This is borne out by a number of CSO surveys, particularly the pulse survey last November which showed that 88% of all workers are looking for flexible work arrangements.

The question for us, as legislators, is how we should respond to that demand and ensure there is a strong legal framework to promote and protect flexible work. We know from the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government's right to request remote work Bill 2021 that it is not fit for purpose. The extensive and sweeping nature of the 13 grounds for refusing a request, the 26-week waiting period and the failure to allow any appeal have all been roundly criticised by many of those appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, particularly Grow Remote, Glofox, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions along with Deputies and Senators from across the political spectrum who want a better and stronger legal framework for flexible work arrangements in this country.

We are introducing this Bill today on a right to flexible work on the basis of having talked to a number of groups. We recognise that this is important for those who want to stay in their jobs, those who do not want to reduce working hours because of caring responsibilities or because of other issues going on with their lives, and also to tap into all those who want to work but cannot work. The Disability Federation of Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, SPARK and the unions have all given input into our legislation which would effectively give a right to flexible work from the first day of employment and make flexible work a default and not the exception or a perk for good behaviour after 26 weeks. It should be a right for all workers and not just those with caring responsibilities, as has been set out in the work-life balance Bill that the Government plans to introduce. We know that thousands of people commute long distances and no longer want to commute five days a week. We know that thousands of people have been forced to move house because of the housing crisis in the city and throughout the country.

We are introducing the First Stage today and hope to be able to take Second Stage in the coming months. We hope that the Government, as it has claimed over the past two months, will introduce improvements to its right to request remote work Bill. As of now, we have not seen anything in that regard. We are left despairing at the Government's attitude towards the potential for remote and flexible working arrangements in the country.