We catch up with Damien English TD, Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, to learn more about how the Irish Government is planning to deal with the massive changes to Irish working practices, with a particular focus on what the future of remote working and the roll out of the Irish rural digital hubs network could look like. The Irish islands are also mentioned as an important part of this future of work strategy.

We apologise for the slightly unusual sound quality as we had to battle with several firewalls, but we felt the conversation was important and therefore that this podcast was still worth hearing. Post lockdown we hope to do a follow up piece without these issues, thank you for your understanding.

Damien English TD is the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, having been appointed on July 2 nd , 2020. He previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government from May 2016 to June 2020. He was first appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills in July 2014. Minister English’s focus in government is on forward-thinking and deliverable initiatives, such as his work on ‘Rebuilding Ireland – Action Plan for Housing’; the expansion of the apprenticeship system in Ireland; Project Ireland 2040; ‘Innovation 2020’ - Ireland's current strategy for research and development, science and technology; ‘Housing Options for our Ageing Population’ which provides a policy framework to support our ageing population; and the ‘National Skills Strategy 2025 – Ireland’s Future’.

He was elected as a Teachta Dála for Meath West in the general election of February 2020. He secured election at his first attempt to Dáil Éireann in 2002, and at each successive election in 2007, 2011 and 2016. He served as a member of Meath County Council from 1999 to 2004.

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