Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Policy responsibility for the food production is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Food Wise 2025 sets out a ten-year plan for the agri-food sector. It underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy, and it illustrates the potential which exists for this sector to grow even further. The creation of 23,000 additional jobs all along the supply chain from producer level to high-end value-added product development are among the ambitious and challenging growth projections for the industry over the timeframe of the plan.

The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. It is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The Iists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.

In May 2018, following a detailed business case submitted by the sector, my Department introduced a pilot quota-based scheme to remove the occupations of horticulture worker, meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant from the ineligible occupations list. This pilot scheme proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector and 500 permits were made available to the Horticulture sector. At present, the quota for Horticulture Worker has expired.

The outcome of the review referenced in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 135 on 5th May 2021, was announced on 14th June, with changes made in respect of certain occupations in the healthcare sector. No change was recommended in respect of the horticulture sector at that time. There was continuing uncertainty in the labour market caused by COVID-19. In addition, initiatives involving sector representatives working closely with the Department of Social Protection on a recruitment campaign ‘Harvest2Harvest’ to support the recruitment of temporary workers from both the live register and across the European Union were underway. The report did recommend that this issue be kept under review, mindful of the need to protect food supplies in the event that workers cannot be sourced locally or from the EEA.

A further review is underway at present with consideration of the 26 submissions received underway, including from the horticulture sector. The review is expected to be finalised in the early autumn.