Denis O'Brien accused of having a ‘brass neck' after describing working from home as ‘load of nonsense'

Irish Independent

14-05-2025

There has been a backlash from the Labour Party and Social Democrats to Mr O'Brien's remarks at the Forvis Mazar's Irish Investor Awards in Dublin last Friday.
Nessa Cosgrove, Labour workers' rights spokesperson, called on the Government to give workers a legal right to flexible and remote work.
She said the world of work is changing 'but this government and obviously Denis O'Brien are stuck in the past'.
'For thousands of people, flexible and remote work has been life-changing. It's not a luxury — it's a necessity for working parents, carers, those facing long commutes, and people priced out of urban centres,' she said.
She said flexible work has helped women workers stay in the workforce, supported carers, and opened up opportunities for people outside cities. Ms Cosgrove said less commuting means less congestion and lower emissions.
The Social Democrats said in a statement that Mr O'Brien has a 'brass neck'.
Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, who is the party's employment spokesperson, claimed Mr O'Brien has a problem with rights for ordinary workers.
'At the outset, 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 should be noted,' she said.
'What is more important, is that he is factually wrong. Ireland is one of the most productive countries in the world and the right to work from home has helped to increase our labour force.'
She said it means disabled people, lone parents and women with children are more likely to be able to take jobs.
'Instead of taking advice from tax-exile billionaires, the Government should look at the facts,' she said. 'Regrettably, when I asked the Taoiseach today if this government intended to further bolster the right to work from home, he dodged the question.'
Ms Gibney said it is 'nonsense' that the right to work from home in this country is so weak
"Employers need only consider a request. There's no obligation to actually provide for the right,' she said.
"Perhaps, if it was stronger, O'Brien himself wouldn't have had to become a tax exile in Malta."
Ms Gibney asked the Taoiseach if he wanted to "take this opportunity to criticise O'Brien's remarks".
Micheál Martin said in response that he believed the general assessment of remote working in Ireland had been a positive one.
"I think over time, we need to evaluate it as a whole a society. Remote working is certainly good for climate. It is certainly good for congestion within cities and towns. It's good for individuals,' he said.
"It has helped increase the participation in the workforce, and it creates flexibility that is also beneficial."