Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be interested in seeing the figures relating to employment permits across the different categories during the Covid-19 to see what is happening with patterns of employment. It was stated that there is still great demand in some high skills areas. It seems likely that is in the IT sector, but it would be interesting, however, to see what is happening in other areas.

It was also mentioned that if an employer is found to be in breach of the conditions of an employment permit that it is then possible for the person coming in on that employment permit to make a change. Will Ms Ward clarify how easy it is to do that? I have heard anecdotal evidence that it is quite difficult to get that acknowledgement. I wonder if that process can be streamlined to ensure that people cannot be trapped in conditions where the proper rules relating to workers' rights are not being applied.

My final question relates to family reunification rights. I am interested in how it is decided who gets family reunification rights. Is there unequal treatment between people who might have high skills and those who do not have such high skills but nonetheless come in on a permit? Should we be moving to some level of equal treatment of different people in respect of family reunification rights?