Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and the committee for allowing me to sit in on this session. I am not a member of the committee but, representing north County Dublin, I am very interested in the horticultural industry. I was lucky to visit Keelings’ plant last year with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, where I met its CEO, Caroline Keeling, and saw the wonderful production facilities it has. The visit was really insightful and impressive. We discussed many of the challenges facing Keelings’ business, and one issue that was raised related to housing for seasonal workers. Has any progress been made on that? Is the issue as acute as what Keelings faced 12 months ago? At the time, we spoke about the challenges in that regard and about the company perhaps developing its own housing.