Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have a mushroom industry there and it is very difficult to attract workers now. It is an issue. Certainly, people who are in hotels and various facilities around the country would love to get out into the workplace. I have spoken with these people. I met a woman waitressing recently in the Farnham Hotel in Cavan who said she was thrilled. She is from Ukraine but it has made her life better. She was a financial controller or something in Ukraine but she wants to be out doing something and wants to be active. It is bizarre that we have people locked up in rooms and facilities around the country while there is a shortage of workers. That needs to be addressed. As Senator Boyhan says, an unintended consequence of the residential land tax is that it can hit people in the horticulture sector. While it is a necessary tax to get land moving and get houses built, these things are difficult to square up. I agree with Senator Boyhan on this.

I thank all Senators for their contributions which were very worthwhile and interesting. As I said, we are accepting the amendment.