Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 May, 2023 to 31 Aug, 2023
Specific Details
Work permits for Horticultural Sector
Intended results
To highlight how the horticultural sector is heavily reliant on sourcing staff from outside Ireland and Europe for the busy harvest period. Major skills and staff supply shortages have emerged in the last number of years in the Irish agriculture sector, which persist despite the more general impact of COVID-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the EU/EEA and Irish employment markets.
To highlight that the rapid growth in Irish employment has made it difficult to attract and retain workers, with employment opportunities available in many other sectors. The boom in the construction sector has been taking many workers from the horticulture sector as it is unable to compete with the higher wages in that sector. Accordingly, the horticulture sector has traditionally relied on migrant staff supply.
To point out that the allocation of General Employment Permits for the sector is exhausted, leaving the sector in a very vulnerable position. If the Government is to achieve its commitment to increase the farmgate value of the horticulture sector by 30%, then urgent action is needed to stem the decline in numbers of commercial growers remaining in Ireland.
To highlight that there are now less than 100 commercial growers left in Ireland. In the strategy report, 53% of growers surveyed cited shortage of staff as the number one constraint for the expansion of the sector.
To propose that The Ineligible Employments list must be updated to remove horticultural trades, pig and poultry farming and farm assistants for dairy. By amending the list of “Ineligible Employments”, this would be a significant positive step by the Government, alleviating a serious recruitment problem in the farming sector.
To seek legislation to allow the long promised ‘seasonal work permit' scheme to be expedited. IFA has provided sufficient industry evidence demonstrating the need for such a scheme in Ireland. Ireland is an outlier both in the European Union and among many developed nations outside of the EU, in not having provision for granting seasonal employment permits. This is putting Ireland at a serious competitive disadvantage compared to their international counterparts.
To insist that the cost of these permits should reflect that they will only be used by individuals working for a portion of the calendar year in Ireland. Accordingly, the cost of these permits should be proportionate (and not the full annual charge that applies to a general permit).
To emphasise that, as the horticulture sectors current allocation of General Employment Permits for the sector is exhausted, leaving the sector in a very vulnerable position, the sector requires a new quota of employment permits to be granted immediately. While these permits do not suit all horticulture sub-sectors, they are invaluable to the mushroom sector which requires workers 365 days of the year.
To demonstrate that the process for allocating new quotas of permits is not fit for purpose and should also be revised. It is critical that the need to extend the number of permits be assessed before the available quotas are exhausted, and where duly justified, the new quota announced as early as possible. This would allow smoother operation of the permit scheme and avoid potentially damaging delays in recruitment.
To highlight that the employment permit quota for horticulture workers is exhausted and needs to be renewed with another 500 permits
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Tim Cullinan IFA President, Niall McCormack IFA Fruit & Vegetable Chair
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Informal communication (2-5)
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Brian Leddin
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Denis O'Donovan
Senator (Seanad)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Joe Flaherty
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Lynn Boylan
Senator (Seanad)
Martin Browne
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Matt Carthy
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Collins
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Fitzmaurice
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Michael Ring
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Neale Richmond
Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Paul Daly
Senator (Seanad)
Paul Kehoe
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Tim Lombard
Senator (Seanad)
Victor Boyhan
Senator (Seanad)