Flexible Work and Commuter Delays: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Johnny Mythen (SF), Wexford

I thank the Labour Party for bringing this motion forward today.
Flexible work, where practical, is of benefit to all sectors of society. The obvious benefits to employers are improved efficiency, fewer sick days, savings on transport, energy bills, facility provisions, car parking and security. Considering the modern and fast pace of life, and the rapid advance of AI technology, flexible hours and remote working make sense.
The influence of remote working on the workforce has added greatly to the quality and value of family life by creating a positive work-life balance. It is a known fact that when workers are happy in their workplace, they work more efficiently and are more likely to go the extra mile for the company and their customers. The positives for society are obvious too, with fewer vehicles on the road, less congestion, a drop in carbon footprint, less pollution, less waste and less energy demand on the grid.
We have all witnessed the long commuter delays on our major roads, especially on the M50 and N11. Alleviation of this problem must include more frequent services on the DART and an overhaul of the timetable, particularly the trains from rural parts, such as the County Wexford Rosslare to Dublin line. The cost of public transport must be reduced.
Many European countries, such as Luxembourg, have introduced free public travel. Other countries have adopted a monthly pass note worth up to €9, while others have €3 daily passes. Some cities, like Montpellier in France, have free public transport within the city. These options must be seriously considered as the traffic on our motorways has reached full capacity. It is a major reason we are missing our carbon emissions targets. It is time to fully fund our public transport for the betterment of future generations. Sinn Féin fully supports this 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