Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with everything Senator Higgins said. We know that not all work is suitable for flexible working conditions. I do not think any of us advocating for a right to flexible work has ever said that, notwithstanding that some on the Government side - and I am not saying this about the Minister - have tried to throw this at us. The key question is whether it is the role of the Government and legislation to decide what work is suitable for flexible work arrangements or whether it should be left up to the Workplace Relations Commission. Effectively, this legislation is reflecting a conservative mindset, truth be told, towards the scope of flexible work here. It is a sad reflection on the Bill that we are not allowing the right to appeal the substance of what is proposed. I accept that we are not going to change anybody's minds here, but it is important to say that the role of legislation in this regard should be to try to facilitate a right to request remote working or whatever. The key point is that we are placing a restriction on employees' right to challenge the substance of refusals.