Dr. Deirdre Curran:

I thank Deputy Munster. Why is it worse? The evidence would suggest that because of labour shortages, the workers who stayed have to compensate for the absence of workers. They have to work much harder and work longer hours. They have to train in new recruits who might only stay a week because they are not suited to it. Therefore, it is much harder for them. Inflation is an issue. Being on low wages, getting to work and back home, and finding accommodation is all adding to the stress. Customer behaviour and expectations are a further issue. I do not know if the Deputy has looked at the prices of hotels in Galway and Dublin recently but they have gone sky-high so customers expect much higher levels of service. In the context of labour shortages, that places extra strain on workers.

On what other research might be done, the research I have done is very modest but I am the only one doing it. I desperately want more research along the same lines, looking at what is wrong and how to make it right. There is scope for research to highlight good practice because there is good practice out there. I know it because I know employers. I am building an alliance of well-minded, ethical employers. Addiction in the industry is a problem, which I will not go into, because of all the stress involved. We need research into addiction rates and how to address that as well. That is my tuppence-worth.