John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 22:

In page 14, to delete lines 2 to 4.

In Senator Currie's view, amendment No. 22 requires a straightforward deletion of the requirement to work for 26 weeks before there is an entitlement to request a flexible working arrangement or remote working. As the legislation stands, the idea is that a person still has to prove himself or herself before being entitled to flexible work, which means we are not embracing a new approach to working after all. Some get access to flexibility and some do not. Social benefits and change come when flexibility is made part of a cultural change rather than something subjected to terms and conditions.

The requirement to work in an office environment for 26 weeks, or six months, will hold people back from working and living where they want, if their roles allow it in the first instance. Location will remain a barrier to employment as people will have to base themselves where their jobs are before proving they can work remotely.

Senator Currie believes our national strategy of bringing remote work to the regions will be held back as a result of this condition. It will hold back lone parents, people with a disability and others who need flexibility from day one. Under the legislation, such people will have no guarantee after six months that they will be given flexibility.