Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have to monitor the situation continually. Some time ago the chief executive of Dairygold, Mr. Wolfe, said that labour shortages were a constraint on expansion for 25% of the company's clients and suppliers. It is a gripping issue that has to be addressed. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has five people looking at skills issues across the whole economy. I do not believe we have taken the issue as seriously as we should have. We need to think about skills shortages before they happen because currently we get skills shortages and then react to them. We need to shorten the time between a shortage arising and when we address it, such as by issuing work permits. I ask the Minister to ensure that the Department is more proactive in responding to the views of industry and advocates for the agricultural sector.

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