The pig industry is facing a huge recruitment crisis. Recent research shows that almost 50% of pig farmers will exit the market if they cannot get workers. Some 48% of those same farmers have vacancies but they are not allowed to recruit outside the State. They cannot fill the vacancies at home and they are not allowed to recruit from outside the State. It is a desperate crisis for them. If the Department does not intervene to allow these farmers to get workers from abroad, this industry is going to go down the Swanee. These are real figures and real concerns across many areas of agriculture and other areas in the country as well. I am not saying it is only the pig farmers who are affected by this problem, but it is particularly acute among them. They have the vacancies but 48% of them cannot get employees because they are not allowed to recruit from abroad. I would like the Taoiseach to ask the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to intervene to give them permits to bring people here in order to keep this valuable industry afloat.

We have a system according to which we decide what roles qualify for work permits. Employers have to meet a set of minimum terms and conditions so that workers are not exploited.

Employers need to make an effort to recruit from the entire European Economic Area, from which they may recruit, including places like Romania and Bulgaria, for example, where many agriculture workers come from. If they are not able to recruit, there is a system by which every six months we decide what professions and what occupations qualify and they have to make a submission. Every six months we update that list. We have updated it a lot. For example, we have included home carers in recent months and pretty much anyone who works in construction. Therefore, it could be done, but those basic terms and conditions must be met because it is right and proper that we protect the incomes, terms and conditions of workers who come from Ireland and other parts of Europe.