Mr. Cian ? Lion?in:

Yes. In terms of the situation with the new arrivals to Ireland, in particular over the past year, it is important first to reflect on where we are now compared to where we were in February. In February, we had just over 8,000 people in the temporary protection system in Ireland. Between those in temporary protection and Ukrainian people arriving, we now have 83,000, so it is staggering what we as a country have done in finding space for them. Tourism has obviously taken the brunt of meeting the accommodation needs.

There is already a good participation rate in the workforce among the Ukrainian people who have arrived in Ireland under the beneficiaries of temporary protection, BOTP, system because they have the same entitlements as any Irish citizen. Hospitality and tourism have been a beneficiary of that. More than 15,000 BOTPs are working generally and approximately half of those are working in our sector.

On those who do not have the automatic entitlement to work, the issue of shortening from six months to three months has not been specifically raised with us. However, in our engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, it has been very responsive when we have gone to it with asks, for instance, on specific skills within the sector and reducing what was at the time a backlog in processing work permits. The Department has really turned that around so key skills in the sector now have a fast turnaround, including for chefs and others. Without making any commitments on that Department's behalf, it is responsive to the needs of the sector. If there is an argument to be made there, my experience is the Department's officials and its Minister are alive to the challenges and opportunities. It is certainly worth having a conversation with them.