Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 October 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise an issue which, as the Leader well knows, needs to be dealt with and which presents a huge threat to our economy and way of life, namely, the current labour shortages in our country. The shortages affect many sectors. I will go through just a few of them. In respect of agriculture, there is intensive pig farming in County Cavan. The processing sector there is experiencing shortages such that batches of pigs cannot be sent for processing to create new stock. This is creating a nightmare scenario in the sector. In the dairy sector, a few hundred farms assistants are needed across the country. My good friend from Cork, Senator Lombard, will be much more au faitwith that than I am, but it is the case. It is the same right throughout the agriculture sector.

According to Fáilte Ireland, two thirds of businesses in the hospitality sector are underperforming because of a lack of labour. The shortage is also affecting nursing homes and the entire health service. When home help packages are approved, there is nobody to provide the care.

Obviously, we must be solution-focused in our efforts. There is no point in identifying the problem and not seeking to solve it. Therefore, we need to fast-track work permit applications from those outside the country immediately. I understand that quite a number of applications are being processed. They must be fast-tracked. We are trying to eliminate the direct provision system, and rightly so. However, we need to fast-track the direct provision process. Asylum seekers who come into the country should, within reason, be brought into the labour force as quickly as possible.

I ask the Leader to advocate for a holistic and whole-of-Government radical approach in respect of this issue and ensure that it is done. This is a most serious matter. It is particularly serious in view of the fact that there are people from non-EAA countries who are willing to come into the State. If they are willing to come to this country to work, it is shocking that we cannot speed up the process and get them here immediately. I look forward to hearing the Leader's response in respect of this crucial issue. I could cite more examples chapter and verse, but now is not the time. I will provide them if required, however.

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