Flexible Work and Commuter Delays: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Ivana Bacik (LAB), Dublin Bay South

I commend my colleagues Deputies Mark Wall and Ciarán Ahern for proposing this important motion. The Government’s counter-motion is deeply disappointing. It does not mention at all the crucial issue of the right to flexible work, which is very disappointing.
The motion proposes a series of practical short- and longer-term measures that could and should be adopted by the Government to ensure better quality of life for workers, families and communities. It would also help our planet because it also emphasises the need for climate action. Giving people a real right to flexible and remote work is climate action. It is action that would have a genuine impact for so many people now stuck in road gridlock and congestion. It would make a real difference to emissions and air quality and provide people with more time for family, caring and community. It would provide people with disabilities with greater access to workplaces. It is deeply disappointing, therefore, that the Minister of State has not seen fit to address this.
My colleagues have spoken about the reality of congestion. Dublin is now one of the most congested cities in Europe. All of us listen to reports of congestion at Bóthar na dTreabh, the Dunkettle Interchange, Johnstown Road and all of the other places where there have been particular issues with congestion. We need to see these addressed and the Government taking a proactive step on investing in cycling infrastructure, active travel and public transport so people have genuine alternatives to the private car and we can address the reality for commuters and others across the country, including in my constituency, who are now facing the awful impacts of gridlock, congestion, poor air quality and climate emissions. We need action from the Government on this, not the pathetic counter-motion.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21