Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
2534. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the pilot scheme entitled the general employment permit for horticulture workers, meat processing operatives and dairy farm assistants is to be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20015/21]
View answerResponsibility for both policy and operational matters relating to work permits is with my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD. However, our Departments do liaise on matters relating to the agriculture sector. The pilot scheme introduced in 2018 for a limited quota of employment permits on horticulture and dairy farms and in meat processing was as a result of an acute shortage of labour in those specific areas. This was at a time when the Irish economy was at or near full employment and sufficient labour could also not be sourced from within the European Economic Area (EEA).
While I am aware that finding sufficient labour continues to be challenging for parts of the agri-food sector, it is unlikely that the scheme will be reinstated, given the large numbers of unemployed individuals both here in Ireland and across the EEA as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employment permits are only considered when all other potential sources of labour have been shown to be unsuccessful.
