Green Party pledges Citizen’s Assembly for four-day working week in manifesto [Video]

The Green Party has proposed a Citizen’s Assembly to examine the costs and benefits of introducing a four-day working week in terms of productivity, wellbeing and finances.

The proposal was one of many policies announced by the party, which enters the general election campaign under new leader Roderic O’Gorman after five years in government, at its manifesto launch on Tuesday.

If returned to government, the Greens plan to introduce a rate rebates for small businesses. Rates of up to €15,000 would be fully refunded while businesses paying €15,000 to €20,000 would benefit from a 50% refund.

Rates rebates would also been granted to businesses taking action towards mitigating climate change, and the party would also like to expand and increase the energy efficiency grant, which is currently worth up to €10,000 for small businesses investing in new equipment and technologies following an energy audit.

The party has also proposed an Illness Benefit for the self-employed. The …