On the Government’s remote working strategy, I commend the Tánaiste’s initiative in signing the new code of practice today to give all employees the right to disconnect from work. Remote working has transformative potential, particularly for rural constituencies like mine and many other rural locations. It is crucially important that as we make the transition in this regard, we protect the rights of workers. That is why today’s initiative on the right to disconnect is very important. Can the Tánaiste outline his further plans in this area and how we see matters playing out in the coming months?

I call Deputy McHugh now on the same issue.

On the same issue, I also acknowledge and welcome this initiative. It is a very important public consultation. The world of work has changed and is changing. That change has been fast-tracked over the past 12 to 13 months. Much work has been done prior to this also in my county where many hotspots and digital hubs have been or are in the process of being built. Like Deputy Griffin, I ask the Tánaiste to expand on his plans and indicate how we can hold companies responsible in this area. I refer, in this regard, to Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and many other companies based in Dublin. We do not just want them to get workers to live in their houses, we want them come to remote places such as Carndonagh, Gweedore, Carrigart, Letterkenny, Finn Valley, Donegal town, Kilcar, Buncrana, Milford, Ramelton and Falcarragh. The buildings are there, so how do we exert pressure to ensure that these locations-----

Does Deputy McHugh want to use up the full 20 minutes?

There is no shortage of buildings in these places. How do we put pressure on companies to allow their workers to come back to their counties?

Tá a fhios agam gur Lá na nAmadán atá i gceist ach más é cead an Teachta, gabh mo leithscéal, lena thoil, iarraim ar bheagáinín tacaíochta uaidh-----

Not necessarily all people can work in their homes or sitting rooms but they could work in remote village hubs. Let us rebuild our towns and villages again. Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I want to raise a point of order. This is happening yet again.

That is not a point of order and I ask the Deputy to resume a seat. I call Deputy Cannon. I have a series of lists here and we are going to run out of time, it is as simple as that. If deputies can co-operate we will get through them.

People are taking the mickey.

I also congratulate the Tánaiste on seizing the initiative and ensuring that as people enter into the world of remote work, there is a strong legislative structure underpinning that process and protecting workers’ rights in how we move forward. Grow Remote, an entity which has essentially welled-up from within rural communities across Ireland, has identified that there are thousands of remote working jobs available to people living across the country. Aligning with the Tánaiste’s ambitions, is there any way of fast-tracking the roll-out of our rural fibre broadband to ensure that these jobs will become available within the shortest possible timeframe to those living in rural Ireland?

I thank the Tánaiste for publishing the code of practice on the right to disconnect. Working people are under more pressure than ever before. Advances in technology have robbed us all of our freedoms. Those advances mean that we are always accessible, always plugged in and always on. Many people have been working from home for a full year now - working from their kitchen tables, living rooms or bedrooms. For them, the distinction between work and home life has blurred beyond recognition. However, they have also seen the benefits of what life without a commute looks like.

This is a questions session-----

There is no doubt that flexible working-----

Does the Deputy have a question on this issue? We are running out of time.

Yes, I have a question. How will this right to disconnect initiative be integrated with the rural plan announced earlier this week?