Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for highlighting the bigger picture regarding vested interests, and for the comparison of how the exports from the sector are valued versus the workers in the sector.

The pandemic highlighted many of the social injustices in our society and the erosion of the State's role in recent years which leaves vulnerable groups exposed to increased risk. It is evident in nursing homes, in direct provision centres and in this case. The scale of the outbreaks in meat processing plants illustrated the harrowing underlying issues in the sector. We are all aware of the unsustainable low prices that farmers have received from them and now a clear picture has been painted of the conditions that workers endure there too. We must consider, like Ms McGinley said, whether the large amount of migrants in this sector contributed to the conditions that facilitate the outbreaks.

A few weeks ago, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, assured me that migrant workers in this area "have the exact same rights as all Irish workers". Subsequently, after several questions to that Department, I learned that since 2015 some 622 migrant workers have been issued general employment permits which fall into the stamp 1 immigration category meaning they have greatly reduced access to social welfare and other related supports. In addition, Ms McGinley's submission shows us that conditions attached to immigration status create vulnerabilities and challenges for workers who are, in effect, tied to their employers.

Ms McGinley's submission has a number of excellent recommendations this committee and the Government should act on. Further to those, can Ms McGinley suggest reforms to our immigration system that would help to strengthen the rights and capacities of migrants and their families?