Ms Dawn Holland:

This shift to automation is an issue that is of wide concern globally as well as in Ireland. At a macro level there is less concern. At a micro level of individual sectors and individual employees there may be some job losses but at the same time, it will be creating new avenues for employment. This is a process that is likely to take several years to stabilise but could fill those jobs that are lost. In the short term many firms have learned how to work remotely and have learned how to not maintain a physical workplace.

There may be some fallout from that, but we do not expect it to have a short term dramatic impact on employment rates across the country.