Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The relationships across these islands are experiencing turbulent times. Nowhere else is the impact of the policy of brinkmanship pursued by the British Government and Conservative Party more clear than in Northern Ireland where the principles that brought communities and opposing philosophies together 25 years ago have been completely undermined and disregarded. People should never have entertained the idea that Boris Johnson would be given the privilege of staying on as caretaker Prime Minister until October. His premiership is ending in shame. He has no respect for the rule of law and standards in public office. Meanwhile. Northern Ireland has no Assembly and no Secretary of State. Northern Ireland cannot wait, and I hope the next Prime Minister has more respect for the needs and democratic wishes of the people of Northern Ireland.

Today, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment issued its report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the right to request to remote work legislation. The report makes recommendations, some of which I support. For example, I support the call for support to be provided to SMEs. We helped businesses transition through Brexit with the Brexit-ready campaign and we helped SMEs with digital transformation. Why not have a remote-ready campaign? We should support businesses through something that is only going to benefit rural communities. The service timeline in the proposed Bill should be removed. People should not have to wait 26 weeks to access the right to request remote working. That right should be available immediately.