Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Agriculture
Period
1 Sep, 2023 to 31 Dec, 2023
Specific Details
Work Permits for Horticultural Sector including Seasonal Permits
Intended results
To highlight that a bespoke seasonal work permit scheme is essential for the seasonal nature of the Irish horticulture sector.
- Ireland is an outlier in Europe because it has no system for granting seasonal employment permits for foreign workers in sectors such as fruit picking, putting our growers at a competitive disadvantage.
- The establishment of a seasonal work permit scheme is of the 8 key Strategic Actions of the National Horticulture Strategy.
- The legislation for the seasonal work permit scheme did not make it before Oireachtas summer recess with a revised indicative timeframe of quarter 1 of 2025. This is extremely disappointing.
To question how can the process be expedited. Is there a precedence where a ‘pilot' scheme can be put in place which does not require legislation? This would allow the scheme to operate in 2024.
To request that the cost for seasonal permits must be less than the cost of existing permits, given that these permits will be for a 7-month period and not a calendar year.
To emphasise that the process to apply for these permits must be streamlined and straightforward for repeat applicants.
To highlight that the pilot General Employment Permit Scheme which is now fully subscribed was very successful for all horticultural commodities, particularly the mushroom industry with year-round production.
- The process to have additional permits granted for the sector is extremely difficult, based on submissions and industry evidence which subsequently leads to lengthy periods where no permits are available.
To request an immediate extension of the existing pilot, General Employment Permit. The number of permits dependant on the launch of the seasonal work permit scheme. IFA have submitted another submission on this in August.
To request a streamlined process for additional annual permits
To propose that farm and horticulture workers to be removed off the ineligible list for permits and classified as critical workers.
To propose that the minimum remuneration for General Employment Permits of €30,000, which is being reviewed as part of the process of allocating a new quota for permits for the sector, should not be applicable to the Horticulture sector. Horticulture operatives had an exemption to the minimum remuneration of €30,000 on the basis that employees must have suitable accommodation and training.
1. Horticultural operatives are generally unskilled workers who do not require any formal qualifications. It is not justified to compare like with like in terms of remuneration of other skilled professionals in receipt of employment permits, as many of these occupations are skilled workers who offer managerial status.
2. The industry is responsible for providing employment directly to more than 7,000 people involved in primary production and a further 11,000 involved downstream.
3. The overarching aim of the National Horticulture Strategy 2023 – 2027 is to increase the farm gate value of the sector by 30% to €688 million in this period.
To oppose the 12% increase in minimum wage to €12.70/hr, along with the increase in PRSI and the auto enrolment pension which will have a huge effect on all horticultural businesses. It will leave many in this sector in a very vulnerable position as the possibility of passing on these increased costs to their customers is slim.
To highlight that the Irish mushroom sector, in particular, is very reliant on the General Employment Permits. Poland is one of the main competitors of the Irish mushroom sector and the minimum wage in Poland will be €6.22/hr from January 2024.
To emphasise that any increase in the minimum remuneration of General Employment Permit holders above that of the increased minimum wage would be detrimental for the sector and may well lead to further consolidation of growers. If the rate of pay for general horticulture operatives rises above that of the increased minimum wage it will make the scheme untenable for many growers.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Brian Rushe IFA Deputy President, Mark Walsh IFA Mushroom Chair, Niall McCormack IFA Fruit and Vegetable Chair, Pat Carroll IFA Tipperary South Chair, Peter Donnellan IFA Fruit and Vegetable Committee, Karol Kissane IFA Senior Policy Executive, Niamh Brennan IFA Policy Executive
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.
Amii McKeever
Adviser to Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Claire Kerrane
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Jackie Cahill
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)
Neale Richmond
Minister of State (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Fiona Campbell
Adviser to Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)