John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

192. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to facilitate remote working particularly taking into account the childcare challenges faced by many working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4375/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The right to request remote work is part of the Government vision to make remote working a permanent feature of Ireland’s workforce in a way that can benefit all – economically, socially and environmentally.  The commitment to introduce legislation to underpin employees' right to request remote work was made in the national Remote Work Strategy.

On 25 January the Government approved the priority drafting of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021 and the submission of the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment to seek early commencement of pre-legislative scrutiny.

I look forward to discussing this important proposal with the Joint Oireachtas Committee as soon as possible and the Bill will be progressed through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible thereafter. 

In addition, Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers contains provisions in relation to flexible working arrangements. As the right to request flexible working arrangements under the Directive extends only to parents and those with caring responsibilities, the required amendments will relate to the Parental Leave Act 1998 and the Carer’s Leave Act 2001 which are not under my policy remit. Responsibility for transposition of the Directive rests with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman TD.