Ms Niamh Brennan:

I will answer that in two ways. It would resolve the seasonal aspect for vegetable growers and those who require the seasonal labour for six, nine or 12 months. Hopefully it will be similar to European schemes. However, for the likes of the mushroom sector, which requires labour 12 months a year, all year round, the general employment permit will still be required. We anticipate the mushroom sector would need about 200 permits per year and they would be rolled over every year, that is 200 new permits per year on a permanent basis. It would put us competitively aligned with other EU countries if we got the seasonal work permit scheme.