Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As the House will be aware, businesses are reporting labour shortages across the economy at the moment in retail, hospitality, logistics, agriculture and food. This is a real problem. A number of different things are driving that, ranging from the impact of the pandemic to how it is much harder for people to travel into the country, or at least it was until a few weeks ago.

With the phasing out of the pandemic unemployment payment and travel restrictions being removed, we will see that labour shortage easing. The issuing of work permits is handled by my Department. We are now at the point where staff are coming back into the offices, we would expect it to be sped up. We also hope to have legislation before the House in the coming months that will modernise the process and make it easier for permits to be given.

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