Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is acknowledged in one sector. I am merely stating that it is not a level playing pitch and that there are other sectors. I referred to care assistants in nursing homes and also to the hospitality sector. I understand 100 permits are being given to the haulage sector to employ people from South Africa and it is having difficulties meeting the numbers that are coming. I am not for one minute advocating cheap labour but I am advocating for sectors of our economy. The hospitality sector is most important and is our largest indigenous sector. Employers in the sector are finding it extremely difficult to get staff in critical areas and the work permit system is prohibiting them from employing people from a wider field. That needs to be re-examined. This is an ideal opportunity to make that point. Ms Dunne referred to the minimum wage moving upwards. To what level does the Department intend it to move towards? I think it is €30,000 currently with a degree qualification and €60,000 without a degree qualification.

We are talking about increasing the labour market needs test. Will the new legislation impose a time limit on processing applications? Private employers must, correctly, meet a threshold and certain criteria in terms of documentation and justification when making a submission to the Department to obtain a permit. However, there is no time limit on the Department to reply in a timely fashion. I know from replies to parliamentary questions that the time it takes to have permits issued is increasing. This is creating a major difficulty, especially in respect of chefs. Restaurants are closing down because they cannot get staff and employment permits. I have no problem with refusals where insufficient information is provided with the application and so on. That is the applicant's fault. However, the process is taking to long, even where the applicant is used to making applications, does so correctly and provides supporting documentation. Does the Department have plans to reduce the processing time?

On the trusted partnerships, is there any scope for having other sectors become trusted partnerships? I am thinking of chefs or the hospitality sector, which has representative bodies. Could the representative body become a trusted partner? It would process the application initially, send it on to the Department with the bulk of the work done and hopefully it would be turned around in a fortnight or so.