Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
640. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the remaining provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 will be commenced; if she is aware of the difficulties that this is causing for workers across rural Ireland, who are now being forced to make long and unnecessary commutes to large urban centres to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34269/23]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 4th April. Its aim is to support employees to achieve a better balance between their home lives and work lives.
An Order commencing much of the Act was made on 3rd July 2023. This includes the provisions introducing 5 days leave for medical care purposes for employees and the extension of breastfeeding breaks to two years after the birth of the child.
In addition, the Act will introduce a right to request flexible working for parents and carers in Part 2A and a right to request remote working for all employees in Part 3. A Code of Practice is being prepared by the Workplace Relations Commission to allow the commencement of these provisions in line with Part 4 of the Act, and the development of this Code of Practice is ongoing. The Workplace Relations Commission have recently held a public consultation, which was receiving submissions up until 9th June. Commencement of Parts 3 and 4 of the Act is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Act also seeks to support those who are victims of domestic violence through the introduction of a statutory paid leave entitlement of five days. Ireland is one of the first countries to introduce statutory domestic violence leave.
