Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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571. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the provisions allowing for the right to request remote working will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38203/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act was enacted on 4 April 2023. Under the Act, all employees will have a right to request remote working.

The legislation contains an obligation on the employer to consider both their needs and the needs of employees when considering a request for remote working arrangements. Employers will also be required to have regard to a Code of Practice when considering such a request from their employees. The provisions of the Act pertaining to the right to request remote working are contained in Part 3 of the Act and have not yet been commenced.

Work on the development of the Code of Practice is ongoing. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is currently reviewing submissions received as part of a public consultation which closed in June.

My intention is that when the Code is complete, Part 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as is practicable.