Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept the Minister's response. I am aware that HRI continues to engage through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide that additional necessary data. The key word in the Minister's response when she referenced the racing and breeding sectors was "industry". That is what it is. I acknowledge it is a sport, but it is a sport that employs a great many people and is worth a considerable amount to the rural economy in terms of economic turnover. That is why this skills-specific shortage is a key element. I completely accept the Minister's point. It has to be where there is that clear demonstrable shortage. No doubt the industry will prove that point in the future.

In general, I welcome the role the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation plays. I understand the balance involved in making sure that while we still have people who are unemployment, there is not any displacement but when one looks at the sectors the Department has dealt with already, such as construction, there is clear evidence that we need to get workers in. Where we get people in, including into the road haulage sector and, hopefully, work-riders in the future, they can help to sustain and to improve existing jobs in those areas.

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