Billionaire Denis O'Brien, who was found by a tribunal to have given corrupt payments to Michael Lowry, has a new problem with the rights for ordinary Irish workers. Speaking at a recent event, O'Brien described working from home as a load of nonsense and part of an entitlement culture that has totally destroyed our work ethic and compromised productivity. I will park the irony of a man who was awarded a mobile phone licence after he made secret payments of €500,000 to a Minister decrying an entitlement culture, and instead focus on how he is completely factually wrong. Ireland is one of the most productive countries in the world. The right to work from home has helped to increase our labour force, removing barriers for people who have disabilities, lone parents and others. What is nonsense is the fact that the right to work from home in this country is so weak. Employers need only consider a request. There is no obligation to provide for the right. Perhaps if it were stronger O'Brien himself would not have had to have become a tax exile in Malta.

Thank you, Deputy.

Will the Taoiseach take this opportunity to criticise O'Brien's remarks? Does the Government have plans to strengthen the to work from home?

The Taoiseach to respond.

The general assessment of remote working in Ireland has been positive. Over time we need to evaluate it, through a whole-of-society approach to the evaluation of remote working.

It certainly is good for climate. It certainly is good for congestion within cities and towns. It is good for individuals. It has helped increase participation in the workforce and it creates a flexibility that is also beneficial. There are also arguments for the need for people to be in workplaces for a sufficiency of time, particularly younger people in terms of mentoring, socialisation and all of that. Rather than-----

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Ruth Coppinger.

-----the comments of that particular individual the Deputy has referenced, I think-----

Thank you, Taoiseach. I call Deputy Ruth Coppinger.

-----that is not the core of this. The important part here is that we continue to evaluate-----

Taoiseach, you are over time. Please.

-----and productivity seems to have increased.