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

I thank Dr. Peter Rigney and Dr. Laura Bambrick for coming before us today. I agree fully with Dr. Rigney's comment that it is critically important we get this right, given the potential for the rise of any anti-immigrant sentiment. Unfortunately, in recent weeks and months, we witnessed an underbelly and an undercurrent of blatant racism that exists. We certainly do not want to bring forward any legislation that could give that any sort of ventilation. We have to get this right. I was encouraged by Dr. Rigney's stating at the end of his presentation that we have an openness to foreign workers, inspired possibly by our experience as an emigrating nation, which we do. We must welcome them. Often, in instances, they are critically important. We need them to ensure certain sectors of our economy perform, develop and grow. Without some of those workers, certain sectors of our economy would not develop and grow.

I take on board what Dr. Rigney said about seasonal workers and potential for sectors to take on third level students. As was said by previous contributors, certain sectors of the economy operate under tight single-digit margins. I refer to food processors and Dr. Rigney mentioned mushroom pickers, which he may have mentioned in passing, but the latter is a sector that only afford to pay a certain amount. We would love it to pay more but it can only afford to pay a certain amount to ensure that sector of the economy is sustainable into the future. When we have practically full employment, there are sectors that cannot get people to take up jobs. In an ideal situation it would be great if sectors could get workers. I am sure most businesses would rather employ people locally because it is expensive to recruit people from the international market. Where there are tight margins and businesses cannot attract workers, how does Dr. Rigney propose they recruit workers?