Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the changes that are being made to the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2021. [53832/22]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the progress of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54008/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 142 together.

The Right to Request Remote Working Bill is part of a broader 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 proposed 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.

Pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment commenced on 9th February and the Report of the Committee was published on the 7th of July. Department officials are now carefully considering its contents including the recommendations on the grounds for refusal and redress provisions.

It has been a challenge to strike the right balance in the legislation between employer and worker interests, that is fair and reasonable to all. I have said on many occasions that I have a ‘listening ear’ with regard to the proposed legislation and I’m open to changes. I have listened to the feedback offered and my officials are working to improve the General Scheme by considering the PLS recommendations and consulting further with stakeholders to identify practical ways forward.

It remains my intention to publish the Bill by the end of the year.