Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I view it slightly differently to the Deputy's good self. What I believe is happening is that there are many jobs that were available before Covid and were not available over the 18 months of the dark days of the pandemic but that are now returning. They might not all be in exactly the same sectors, but there is no sign at all of job opportunity erosion happening within our economy.

As to why so many employers are struggling to attract new workers to their businesses, I do not believe it is due to a lack of people in most parts of our economy. It is simply the case that more workers are needed for some parts of our economy. The Deputy is aware of the pressures on the work permit scheme as we try to bring new people into our economy to fill vacancies. People who performed jobs in some parts of our economy before Covid hit are making the decision to change sectors and do other work. The restaurant and hospitality sector, which is before another Oireachtas committee at the moment, is on the front lines in that regard. As the Deputy knows, it is having considerable recruitment difficulties. It has indicated in some of its pre-committee statements that it views this as a major challenge to having a successful summer period. There are some parts of our economy where there is a lack of workers, and there is a great deal of demand for additional work permits for those parts of the economy.