Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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117. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to expand the provisions of flexible working and remote working contained in the Work Life Balance Bill 2022 to all employees, beyond those who are in care relationships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56948/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Having reflected on the recommendations of the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Reports of both Bills and input from stakeholders, the Tánaiste and I secured Cabinet approval last week for proposals to integrate the provisions of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill into the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill to Cabinet last week. This approach will deliver an integrated Bill that gives a right to request remote working to all workers, while the right to request other forms of flexible working will remain limited to parents and carers as defined in the Bill.

In addition, a review clause will be added to the Bill to provide for the review of the provisions related to the right to request flexible working two years after their introduction. The review requirement in the Bill will allow for consideration to extend the general right to all forms of flexible working as part of the review process.

Officials in the Department of Enterprise, with the support of officials in my Department are working with the Office of Parliamentary Council to develop the relevant amendments necessary to provide for the general right to request remote working in the Bill. The amendments will be introduced at a later stage in the legislative process.