Ms Julia Marciniak:

A rise in wages in the hospitality sector is necessary and this is the only way to recruit new workers. With regard to visas and permits, we should welcome everybody to the country. We must be very careful, however, as I know as a person working for the union that some people are here on permits that allow limited hours weekly. They are expected to work 20 hours per week on minimum wage and put up with the cost of living in Ireland. Out of desperation those workers often take hours they are not technically allowed to work, and often they do not get payments for the hours. They are not being paid the living wage and struggle to address such issues because they may have broken the conditions of the visa or permit.

We must be very careful. If people are allowed into the country, they should have the right to work. I do not know how we can make it a criminal offence for a person wanting to work and make money.