Vol. 544 No. 3
128 Mr. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date in her review of economic migration policy; when she expects the review to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28644/01]
One of the main strategic goals of my Department is to promote the development of the Irish economy and more particularly to mobilise the necessary labour supply in the quantity and quality needed to secure sustainable economic growth.
In recent months my Department has been reviewing policy and practices with regard to economic migration to ensure that in the longer term they continue to meet the needs of the economy in an efficient and effective manner. Our existing policy instruments were put in place at a much earlier stage of our development and are based on a model of very limited, temporary immigration of skilled personnel. The experience of recent years clearly poses questions in relation to this model.
I am anxious to look at longer term policy approaches and options that we might adopt which would enable us to respond in a structured way to the medium to long-term need for overseas labour in our economy. Issues which have to be considered include the possibility of a move towards a more managed system of economic migration, a much more enhanced role for FÁS in the process and the developments which are happening at EU level such as the proposal for a Council directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of paid employment and self-employed economic activities.
I am as concerned about the quality as about the quantity of recruitment from overseas, given that many of those coming here temporarily may eventually become long-term residents and possibly become citizens. This has been the experience elsewhere.
The early indications from the review process which is under way are that we need to put our existing arrangements on a more modern legislative basis. I hope to be in a position to outline my proposals for legislation in this area before the end of the year.
