Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo Deputy Buckley's point. None of us is in any doubt that there are people in that age group who could take up a position in the Defence Forces, although maybe not on the front line.

There are positions whereby we could increase the staffing level of the Defence Forces. Do other members wish to comment? No.

The next petition is No. 25/22, from Mr. Patrick Lynn, who calls for chefs to be added to the critical skills list now to save Irish hospitality. The petitioner considers that chefs should be added to the critical skills occupations list to support the Irish hospitality sector in its recovery. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment responded by advising, among other things that all chefs are eligible for the general employment permit since 2019 and must have a minimum remuneration of €30,000; that the critical skills occupations list is the State's premium permit that is used to attract highly skilled employees to take up residence and employment in the State like medical professionals; and that ICT or financial practitioners must have a minimum income of €32,000 with a degree and €64,000 without a degree. The Department also set out Fáilte Ireland's role in helping the hospitality sector to recover.

The committee recommends that the correspondence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment be forwarded to the petitioner, Mr. Patrick Lynn, for comment and to advise him to please respond within 14 days; that we contact Fáilte Ireland about his plan to help employers in the hospitality sector to meet the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff, and to please respond within 14 days; and that Mr. Lynn be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee on Public Petitions to discuss his petition. Do members have views on the recommendations?