Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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96. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will legislate to secure for workers the right to work from home when possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7031/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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On 25 January the Government approved the priority drafting of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2022 . Pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment commenced this week.

This legislation will provide employees with a right to request remote work and will provide a legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing such a request can be based. It will also provide legal clarity to employers on their obligations for dealing with such requests.

Employee and employer representative groups will also have their opportunity to address the Joint Oireachtas Committee. I'll be interested to hear what they have to say, interested to hear what the unions have to say, and what the employer’s bodies have to say. I'll take on board suggestions from all sides to improve the legislation.

This is one of many measures the Government has introduced to incentivise remote working. Others include the right to disconnect and investment in remote working hubs across the country as part of our Remote Working Strategy published last year.

Of course this is only the General Scheme and we will be drafting the Bill over the coming months, so I am happy to take feedback and suggestions on the legislation.

My Department is currently looking further at the legal issues related to strengthening the redress provisions and the right of appeal, and is taking legal advice on the matter.

We recognise that not all occupations, industries, or particular roles within an enterprise, will be appropriate or suitable for remote working, e.g. construction workers, nurses. Calls to introduce a blanket right to remote working are not realistic.