Ms Fiona Ward:

The WRC uses many methods in undertaking its role and it carries out notified and unnotified inspections of employers. If we get information, or if the processors get some information or look at an employment permit and are not entirely happy with what they see, we would send that information to the inspectorate for it to undertake an inspection. An operation was undertaken in the meat processing plants in 2019, I think. It was a multi-agency operation, involving gardaí, WRC inspectors, social welfare inspectors and, as far as I know but I am not entirely sure, Revenue officials. Therefore, an operation was carried out in the meat processing sector at that time and I will get some information on that aspect for the Deputy.

Turning to the ineligible list, as has been said, that is part of our twice-yearly review. We are guided by the evidence presented regarding where labour shortages are by the national skills bulletin, which identifies where there are skills shortages in the State. In addition, we also get submissions from various sectors. We then work with the relevant policy Department, which in the case of speech therapists would be the Department of Health, and with economic migration interdepartmental group to identify where the shortages are. If there is evidence of a skills shortage in an area, we would then remove that category from the ineligible list and applicants would then be eligible for employment permits.