Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of work exchange and WWOOFing practices under the current Covid-19 restrictions. [48138/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I do not have responsibility for educational skills development or cultural exchange programmes in the farming sector, my Colleague, Charlie McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is the Minister responsible for the farming sector.

The Work Safety Protocol, which was updated on the 16^thof September, reflects the prevailing Public Health guidance for employers and workers on the infection prevention and control as well as other measures that should be put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Farms are places of work and anyone visiting a farm, just like any place of work, should follow the guidance and advice contained in the Protocol. The Work Safely Protocol can be accessed on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website www.enterprise.ie .

Some sectors have also developed guidance based on the Work Safely Protocol, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA ) is one such representative body which has developed additional guidance for its members.

If an individual is travelling from overseas to take part in an cultural exchange programme on a farm, they should follow the current public health advice on travelling into Ireland from overseas. Information on international travel into Ireland can be found on the Government website www.gov.ie.