Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration is being given to strengthening the provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 pertaining the right to request remote working, appreciating the increase in the number of companies insisting that employees return to the office environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The right to request a remote working arrangement for all employees was commenced through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 on 6 March 2024.

The right to a request flexible working arrangement, such as adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, is available to parents and carers under the Act.

Employers are obliged to have regard to the Code of Practice and the other requirements of the Act when considering requests for remote working. Employees have recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission if the employer fails in this duty.

Legislation providing the right to request remote work and the Code of Practice have been in place for less than a year at this point. Introducing remote work as a permanent or long-term policy is a significant change for employers and employees and there will be a period of adjustment for all.

There are provisions within the Act for the remote working provisions of the Act to be reviewed not earlier than one year and not later than 2 years after the commencement of the legislation. There are also provisions to conduct a review of the operation of the flexible working provisions of the Act and, as part of the review, consideration will be given as to whether the right to request a flexible working arrangement should be extended to all employees.

As the legislation has been in operation for less than a year at this point, the review has not commenced yet.