Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Okay. It is just to have an overview and an understanding of it. Another issue, which probably is not to do with the accounts, relates to page 23 of the Department's Covid-19 and Brexit planning document, specifically the permits section of the Department and delivering employment permits. I understand the Department concentrated on the health sector, which I very much appreciate, and any interaction I had with the Department in regard to that sector was brilliant and immediately taken care of. However there are other sectors, such as the road transport sector, which has been applying for an employment permit for four stipulated countries and I am told the process has taken between six and nine months. There is the added difficulty whereby the Department must correspond with the Department of Transport in regard to the driving licence, but Dr. Quinn will have heard and noted, particularly of late, that there is an even further difficulty and crisis within that sector.

Will Dr. Quinn outline for me how she correlates with the Department of Transport to try to speed up the process? I note the Minister of State, Deputy English, said the quota requirement has been removed. However, as Dr. Quinn will be aware, because she probably has more insight, that does nothing for the recruitment process because we are talking about countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia and South Africa. They were not able to obtain 380 employees. They only filled 180 permits from those jurisdictions, so removing the quota is of no benefit. What is required here is a look at the jurisdictions. Dr. Quinn might outline what her Department has prepared on that front.