Fergus O'Dowd
Question:73 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if he is satisfied with support for business start ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36491/10]
Other Questions
Enterprise Support Services
Ireland is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world and never has this spirit been more important. The growth and development of small Irish businesses, is central to economic recovery and it is essential that Irish enterprises continue to be supported.
My priority is to ensure that the business environment is supportive of enterprise and encourages growth in all areas of the economy including entrepreneurs in both the start-up and development phases. We are driving change across a range of policy areas, from the costs of doing business, regulation to research and development and innovation, skills and tax incentives. These all combine to foster an environment that supports entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.
The complementary remit and activities of both Enterprise Ireland and the CEBs ensure that as broad a suite as possible of State supports are available to start-ups in Ireland. The CEBs assist micro-enterprises and are to the forefront in supporting viable business start-ups which can generate job creation at a local level. The level of activity across the entire CEB network has continued to increase during the downturn in the economy. This activity includes direct grant aid to businesses and project promoters and provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice all of which help to stimulate indigenous enterprise creation.
Since 2004, the CEBs have supported more than 3,000 greenfield start up companies with an initial job count of more than 4,000. In addition, Enterprise Ireland supported 73 new high potential start-up companies in 2009. These companies are poised to create 900 jobs over the next three years and no doubt more in future years. We are increasing funding so that, by 2016, we will support 100 high potential start-ups each year.
In the past decade, the Government has made significant investment in developing the broader environment for start-ups. This has included substantial investment in incubators, seed and venture funds, angel networks and mentors. Enterprise Ireland also support community enterprise centres which provide a range of facilities for entrepreneurs. The establishment of Innovation Fund Ireland is further evidence of the Government's continued commitment to supporting start up companies in Ireland.
The Government has also extended the three-year corporate and capital tax exemption for new start-up companies in 2010. Firms benefit from a tax exemption for the first three years of trading. All of these measures combine to provide an environment that supports entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.
I seek clarity from the Minister on the uncertainty regarding the funding of the enterprise boards. Many enterprise boards are starved of cash at present. Will further funding be forthcoming? What is the Minister's view of the role of enterprise boards from 1 January next onwards? Will they continue in operation or will they be amalgamated into Enterprise Ireland? Is the proposed bank loan guarantee scheme still Government policy and when does the Minister expect it to be introduced? A recent Forfás report stated that Irish companies were not in a position to compete internationally because guarantee schemes are in place in other jurisdictions both in Europe and worldwide.
Go raibh maith agat.
Finally, the Minister mentioned the three-year exemption for corporation tax for start-up companies. I was an accountant from many years——
Please Deputy.
——and the bulk of entrepreneurs are set up as sole traders, rather than as limited companies. Consequently, this tax exemption for the first three years should be extended to cater for them.
The final point obviously is a matter for the Minister for Finance and the Deputy should take it up directly with him.
What is the Minister's own view in this regard?
The Deputy has raised a number of interesting issues with which I wish to deal. One concerns the county and city enterprise boards and funding thereof. When I came into this office I asked Enterprise Ireland to undertake a trawl of the enterprise boards to ascertain precisely which projects were on hand, which projects were approved, and what was the requirement in terms of money. After an initial response from 28 of the 35 boards we have since had a full complement of replies and now know exactly what jobs are approved and how much money is required.
In line with my commitment to enterprise, I will be making an announcement in the very near future indicating clearly that I will make funding available for those jobs to be created. Before that, however, I will take the opportunity to inform each of the city and county enterprise boards individually. It is important that we support these bodies which do a valuable job in communities, encourage community enterprise——
Several Deputies wish to contribute. I call Deputy Penrose.
There is one other——
What about the guarantee scheme?
The Minister must contract his answers.
My question was not answered.
I have no control over that matter.
My time is up.
The Minister will have an opportunity to say more.
Is it likely that the number of county and city enterprise boards will be reduced? The Minister recently hinted at an amalgamation in a speech he delivered in Mallow. Second, in regard to start-ups, one of the first impositions is a State-imposed charge in the form of rates. Will the Minister give consideration to a small business rates relief scheme for start-ups based either on turnover, the size of the business unit or a combination of both?
I will answer the second question first. I am anxious to reduce costs for businesses, and I acknowledge that local authority rates represent a significant cost. There is a widely held view that while the income and asset values of many small businesses have reduced dramatically, charges have not reduced as significantly as they might have done. I recently spoke to all the city and county managers about inputs and asked them to come back to me with three papers on three different issues. One of those issues is that alongside their planning role, they also have an important developmental role and, as such, it is within their remit to ensure costs are reduced. My understanding as of last Friday is that I will receive those three reports in the coming weeks. I will examine them in great detail. The review carried out in local authorities indicates clearly that there is scope for significant savings, and I am happy for that to be done.
On the Deputy's first question, I am looking at the structure of the county and city enterprise boards. I am anxious to ensure that we have a unified and synergised enterprise strategy and that all elements of it work in consort. I want to examine outputs from each entity. I am not convinced that we should have 35 private companies where the cost of auditing is €250,000 and the cost of advertising across the board is another €250,000. I would prefer that money to be invested in job creation.
Does the Minister accept the concept of a one-stop shop? Entrepreneurs are generally highly competent to advance their business plans but they may have one weakness in regard to, for example, preparing business plans, dealing with payroll or handling regulatory compliance. It would be extremely helpful to have a one-stop shop that would offer this type of advice. Will the Minister consider the establishment of one-stop shops rather than having entrepreneurs going to country enterprise boards, Enterprise Ireland, the Leader programme and so on?
I am taking everything into consideration and, as I said, I will take this matter to Government in the next two weeks. Ultimately, however, it is a matter for Government to decide.
The Minister's time is up.
I have almost completed my preparations in this regard. I want it to be as feasible and open as possible for people to——
I have called Deputy O'Donnell. I would appreciate if the Minister would occasionally pay some attention to the Chair.
I will join the Minister later for a cup of coffee and we can discuss the matter.
Perhaps the Minister would like to go and have a cup of coffee now, or else allow me to conduct the business of the House.
Will the enterprise boards continue to have a local presence? The Government has already cut funding to the boards by €7 million this year. It is about getting funding to the SME sector. Will the Minister indicate precisely what form the proposed revision will take?
I apologise to the Leas Cheann-Comhairle for interrupting.
Very good.
I knew the Deputy was very anxious to get an answer. I will definitely retain the local input because that is extremely important. The boards would not be as effective without that local input.
What form will it take?
That is a matter to be worked out and to be passed by Cabinet. I assure the Deputy that local input will be part and parcel of it.
Departmental Staff
Paul Kehoe
Question:74 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if his Department has employed any persons with experience in private sector management to senior positions within the management of the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36473/10]
Under the terms of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, recruitment to the Civil Service, including my Department, is a matter for the public appointments service, PAS, which is required to ensure that standards of probity, merit, equity and fairness are followed in the recruitment, assessment and selection of persons for appointment. It is for the PAS to determine the qualifications and experience required for appointment to general service positions up to and including principal officer level.
I understand the "senior positions" referred to by the Deputy to comprise the grades of Secretary General, assistant secretary and principal officer. All promotions to principal officer in my Department are made on merit, either by way of internal competition or by way of competitions held by the PAS, some of which are open to non-civil servants. Since 2004, in accordance with instructions issued by the Department of Finance, all vacancies that would normally be filled by way of PAS competitions have been filled by the redeployment of staff who were surplus to requirements in Dublin due to decentralisation.
Appointments to Secretary General and assistant secretary positions are made by the Government and the relevant Minister, respectively, following — in most cases since early 2007 — an open competition organised by the PAS. The latter holds a preliminary competition and selects a shortlist of candidates for interview by the top-level appointments committee. It is for the committee to determine the qualifications and experience required for appointment to these positions.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. However, it did not answer my question which was whether his Department has appointed any persons with experience in the private sector to senior positions. I take it from his contribution that the answer is "no" in that he explained the procedure and how open it is but did not indicate the outcome. As I understand it, across all Departments, of 81 positions at the upper level, only one has been filled by a person from outside. That person was previously employed in the public service but had temporarily departed.
Does the Minister of State not agree that his Department, which deals exclusively with the development of enterprise, ought to include among its senior management team somebody with experience in that field? Since the Department of Finance has recently engaged a person of relevant experience, namely, Mr. Jim O'Leary, will the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation consider employing a person with experience in the private sector in order to bolster its management team? The Department is clearly not delivering on its own agenda.
No other Department has a greater range of daily interaction with the private sector than our Department. We tap into private sector experience across all our State boards——
The Minister of State is getting good at avoiding questions. He is learning from his master.
Deputy Bruton must allow the Minister of State to reply.
My Department has used the experience of the private sector extensively in all our operations and consults extensively with private sector experts on a daily basis. The position of employing private sector people for the sake of it represents something of a waste of time. We use their knowledge and experience for specific responses to specific situations.
That is not what we are saying. May I ask the Minister of State a question?
Yes, but you might wait to be called.
Are we being told that there are absolutely no people with private sector experience who are fit persons to hold a senior position in the public service? That is what the Minister of State is implying. Surely his own Department, which deals day to day with enterprise, ought to be open to bringing some of those people and those skills in-house. Can the Department not employ somebody as the Department of Finance has done or is the latter saying that different rules apply to other Departments?
All senior appointments, from assistant secretary up, are made by open recruitment. Over the summer the Government reconstituted the top level appointments committee, TLAC, to include more private sector people than were previously on it and to open up the opportunities.
Is that more than zero?
No, the TLAC has always had private sector involvement. That goes back to the Deputy's Party's last time in Government so he should be aware of it from then.
Public Procurement Contracts
Michael D'Arcy
Question:75 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if he has conducted a systematic review of the success of Irish small and medium enterprises in getting public procurement contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36452/10]
The Government is working to ensure that SMEs can access public sector contracts in Ireland and abroad. As well as being an important source of income, winning public sector contracts here can have a very positive impact when companies are looking to win contracts abroad. We are continuing to drive the development of innovative public procurement processes across the public sector that improve access for SMEs.
The 10-Step Guide to Smart Procurement and SME Access to Public Contracts was published in July 2009 and provides practical guidance to public bodies on measures which could boost the involvement of SMEs in public procurement. In 2009, Enterprise Ireland established a public procurement team to focus on procurement opportunities in Ireland and abroad for indigenous companies and to accelerate knowledge within contracting authorities in the public service of the potential of these Irish companies. Some 660 Irish companies took part in Enterprise Ireland's International Markets week recently where EI's public procurement specialists were present to discuss public sector procurement opportunities.
I am speeding through this because it is a very good answer.
That is for Members to decide.
The Minister for Finance has issued guidelines to public contracting authorities aimed at operating their tendering processes in a manner that facilitates increased participation by SMEs, while ensuring that all purchasing is carried out in a manner that is legal, transparent and secures optimal value for money for the taxpayer. The guidelines also highlight practices that are to be avoided where they can unjustifiably hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts.
There has not been a review of the success of Irish small and medium enterprises in obtaining public procurement contracts here. However, in the context of the foregoing initiatives which have already been taken in relation to improving tendering opportunities for SMEs, officials in the Department are engaging with the national public procurement policy unit to explore how statistical data can be captured going forward to measure the success rate of Irish SMEs in tendering for public procurement contracts.
In terms of foreign public sector contracts, in 2009 some 80 overseas public procurement contracts worth over €210 million were signed with Enterprise Ireland input. Already this year, 63 contracts have been won and Irish firms have secured €200 million worth of contracts with the Olympic Development Authority in the UK. The Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, was in London again last week encouraging Irish companies to look at the Olympic Games as an opportunity to win overseas contracts.
The Minister of State used the word "guidelines" a number of times and said there has not been a review. I think the review will point to the fact that Irish SMEs are not accessing public procurement contracts or orders. For example, 17% of Irish public contracts go overseas while the average for other European countries is 1.5%. Why is that?
It is important to compare like with like. It is important to compare data from economies of similar size.
The Minister of State can pick any country across Europe.
Comparing Ireland to Germany, for example, in the context of public procurement is not fair.
To what country would the Minister of State compare Ireland?
I am talking about countries of like size.
Let us pick a country.
Some 95% of all public procurement contracts are filled by Irish companies. We are an open, global trading economy. We win far more contracts overseas than we would if we took the course many people are suggesting and narrowed our focus to make it difficult for others to tender for Irish contracts. We are winning a sizeable share of public procurement contracts, particularly in the United Kingdom, from local authorities and health services.
The question is about SMEs.
These are SMEs. They are small software companies that are winning substantial contracts right across the public sector in the United Kingdom. It is important that we do not say Irish SMEs are unable to tender for public procurement contracts either in Ireland or abroad. They are doing it very effectively and 95% is the figure.
I have some brief questions. First, is it not our problem that we overly adhere to a love of everything European? We are too good Europeans. We try to behave while other countries do not. Second, why do we not unbundle more contracts and make them smaller so that more of our firms can compete for them? Third, why do we put contracts together on a three or four year basis rather than a one or two year basis which would facilitate more of our small firms in terms of competing?
We have started unbundling some of the larger contracts to make it more amenable to small and medium firms to tender for contracts. We are looking at this in the most imaginative and strategic way possible. We must understand that many Irish companies, including small and medium-sized companies, are winning contracts abroad.
I thank the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, for his earlier reply and apologise if I almost got him thrown out of the Dáil.
Is the Minister of State proposing to further segment public procurement contracts? I know some work has been done on this and I welcome it as I have acknowledged publicly. Will the Government tackle the issue of capital construction projects such as school buildings and hospital extensions? That is a huge problem. There are many construction workers and contractors available for work. What is the Minister of State's thinking on that?
The Deputy is clearly keeping a very close eye on what the Government is doing. At present, the Government is reviewing the whole area of construction. We are looking at it on a sectoral basis to see where we can make contracts more amenable to the small and medium-sized sector.
When will that be done?
It is being carried out at present. We are very conscious of the need to make it easier for small and medium-sized firms to tender.
There are some areas of Irish public procurement for which no Irish company can tender because they may not have expertise in the area, may not have the capacity or may not be producing the required product. This is the case in the medical, military and other specific areas.
In light of the contracts being awarded, the credit terms being attached and non-payment within 60 and 90 days, will the Minister of State review the credit terms attached by State entities? Many viable businesses are being closed due to the non-payment of debt by public institutions. Extended credit is given by companies. Something needs to be done about these credit terms.
The Department opted out of the review of the extended credit given to State entities and private companies. Will this now be reviewed?
This issue was publicised recently. Most State agencies and the State itself pay within 15 days of receipt of invoice. Approximately 97% of payments are made in that time.
Contracts between private companies and individuals is another issue. The State does not get involved in that. Terms of credit is an issue between a vendor and a purchaser.
The Department opted out of that.
We are conscious that terms of credit are being extended way out and this is putting huge pressure on small and medium-sized businesses, particularly those that are supplying larger companies with products, goods and services. However, that is a civil matter for the people concerned.
No, it is not. The Minister opted out of the review of that matter. There should be legislation for that.
The State cannot be involved in every aspect of life. When two people are drafting a contract, it is important that there are clear terms and conditions about when payment scheduling is arranged.
The Department opted out of it.
I am only trying to give advice to the Deputy and to the broader business community. Individual contracts can be drafted and are drafted continually. Until recently the terms of reference were always very vague but credit terms have extended quite substantially. We are conscious of the pressures this is putting on people.
Waste Management
Damien English
Question:76 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if he is satisfied with the cost on business of waste management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36458/10]
The determination of waste management charges is primarily a matter for the local authorities or private operators where such operators are involved in the provision of a waste collection service. However, my Department is focusing its efforts on reducing all costs to business, including waste costs, to enhance the competitiveness of companies in Ireland.
The National Competitiveness Council, NCC, published two reports in July which act as useful benchmarks for analysing business costs in Ireland, the Cost of Doing Business in Ireland and the Annual Competitiveness Report 2010: Volume 1, Benchmarking Ireland's Performance. Both of these reports found that, overall, Ireland has regained some of its competitiveness since 2008 as a result of a fall in price and cost levels relative to our main trading partners.
The benchmarking report found that in 2008 Ireland was the most expensive of the locations benchmarked for waste costs, although costs in Ireland vary significantly by local authority. However, the NCC also reported that market prices have fallen significantly recently due to the recession. This finding is underpinned by Forfás's latest benchmarking report on waste management which was published on 6 October.
Waste policy overall is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, who recently invited submissions on a draft statement of waste policy. The enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my Department, namely, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Forfás, made a joint submission with a view to ensuring that optimal solutions for waste management are available for companies operating in Ireland on a competitive cost basis when compared with our trading and investment competitor countries.
Can the Minister of State confirm that his agencies take the view that the Minister's policy in this area is damaging to our cost base and prevents the development of opportunities? Does he accept that the NCC report indicates that we are not only the most expensive of the benchmarked countries but are also twice as expensive as Scotland, a country with comparable population? Is he aware that the NCC and Forfás have been withering about the hamfisted way in which this sector is being regulated, with local authorities acting as both regulator and provider? Can he indicate when a coherent policy based on enterprise needs will emerge and whether responsibility will, if necessary, be wrestled away from the Minister, Deputy Gormley, in order to develop this much needed coherence?
Rather than using emotive words like "damaging", it is important to note that all the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are concerned about our competitiveness and they tend to make their concerns known at Cabinet sub-committee meetings and when making presentations to Government officials. The agencies clearly recognise the importance of reducing costs. The market price has fallen and there is evidence from landfill sites and other waste facilities that lower prices are being accepted. The Department and its agencies continue to apply pressure to further reduce costs and we await with interest the statement of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, on the matter.
I ask Members to ensure their mobile telephones are turned off as they interfere with the recording of proceedings.
Is the Minister of State aware that the NCC has pointed out the need for a process of implementation of the competitiveness agenda? In this important area, both Forfás and the NCC have confirmed that the Government is pursuing a policy that is absolutely perverse. Who in Government is taking responsibility for delivering change in light of the cost in jobs and opportunities? Clarity is needed on this. The fact that the Minister is defending constituency interests or pursuing a particular approach should not blind the Government to the need for a cross-departmental approach to creating and protecting jobs. The Minister of State needs to get his finger out instead of supplying the standard answers.
The pressure on landfill is to move people towards recycling opportunities.
The structure of the landfill levy was described by the Minister of State's agencies as perverse. The Minister of State should read the documents.
Allow the Minister of State to reply without interruption.
The Government is not pursuing the hierarchy of waste.
The Government is under pressure from two factors. We wish to reduce the use of landfill and, naturally, the cost of recycling and landfill. Landfill is not a particularly efficient way of dealing with waste.
The Minister of State should read the report because he got it wrong.
The pressure arises because the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is pulling in one direction and the rest of the Government is pulling in what is probably the correct direction by addressing the matter in line with the recommendations of Forfás and the NCC. Irrespective of what else happens, this issue will have to be addressed. I ask the Minister of State to bring cohesion to Government policy in this regard.
I continue to press the Minister from a cost competitiveness perspective. Deputies will have to be patient while the draft policy statement is being prepared and published. Let me be clear; the pressure from my Department is to reduce costs.
The NCC sought a cross-departmental procedure for implementing change in this area but the Government has long refused to act. Does the Minister of State believe it is time to introduce a procedure for implementing these changes and, if so, what action will he take to promote it?
The Government is taking a coherent approach to the challenge of bringing the country out of recession and into recovery. Cost competitiveness is vital in that context.
If it is meaningless, he is all for it.
I expect every Minister to consider cost structures in making decisions, even ones which affect the environment.
Employment Rights
Michael D. Higgins
Question:77 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation the steps he will take to prevent the exploitation of domestic workers, particularly migrant workers in such positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36395/10]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:85 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the report published by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, entitled Work Permits and Expoitation: Time for Reform, seeking changes in the current arrangements for issuing work permits to those from outside the EEA which it claimed was leading to exploitation of workers; his plans to change the current regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36394/10]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 85 together.
I am aware of the recent report by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, Work Permits and Exploitation: Time For Reform, in the context of proposing changes to the system of issuing work permits. The employment permits system and the treatment of migrant workers has significantly changed in recent years. These changes have sought to strike the correct balance between the rights of the individual employee, the employer and the constantly changing needs of the labour market.
Under the Employment Permits Act 2006, individual employees were given the right to apply for their own permit and to change employer after a period of a year. In August 2009 a new initiative was introduced dispensing with the requirement of a work permit for those who have been working lawfully and who have held an employment permit for five consecutive years. This allows an employee full access to the labour market for any type of job and any employer.
An undocumented scheme has also been introduced allowing those who have become undocumented through no fault of their own and who previously held a work permit to regularise their situations. In addition, a scheme to assist persons made redundant has also been introduced and the period to allow a person get a job has been extended to six months.
Ireland's body of employment rights legislation and in particular the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 protects all workers employed on an employer-employee basis in Ireland. The National Employment Rights Authority, NERA, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with certain employment conditions for all categories of workers in Ireland, including migrant workers. Where evidence of non-compliance with the relevant employment rights legislation is found, NERA works with the employer in the first instance to achieve compliance. Where breaches are not rectified or where there are substantial breaches of employment rights legislation, NERA may initiate a prosecution. In 2009, €2.5 million in unpaid wages was recovered for over 6,000 workers, including migrants who were identified as having been paid less than their statutory minimum entitlements.
A code of practice for protecting persons employed in other people's homes has been prepared under the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The code sets out certain employment rights and protections, encourages good practice and compliance with the law and increases awareness of the application of relevant legislation for persons employed in other people's homes.
There are also other avenues of redress where breaches of employment rights occur, such as referrals to the Rights Commissioners and the Employment Appeals Tribunal. The range of new measures now in place has substantially improved the situation for all workers, including those on employment permits. It is important to retain the current controls within the employment permits system as they operate to protect employees by allowing the system to trace employers who employ permit holders. The current arrangements for moving jobs are sufficiently flexible in the current circumstances.
I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply, even though I totally disagree with the last part of it. The following is a statement from one migrant domestic worker:
The permit is like a chain around your neck. I couldn't leave my job. I was told by my employer that if I leave I will be illegal here and not be able to find another job. He said that I would be sent back home in shackles.
On hearing this at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, one was ashamed to be Irish. I believe the Minister of State is aware of the audio recording. In fairness to him, he has some sympathy with the case.
We all know the Minister must run the system correctly and that it cannot be blackguarded in any way. I know the point Minister of State is making. However, does he not agree that one should be allowed to change employer by notifying the Minister that is one is changing from employer Deputy Morgan, politician, to employer Deputy Penrose, politician, for example? It is a case of moving from like to like — it is not a case of going all over the place within the 12-month period.
Can what I propose not be achieved through a simple administrative change? There is no need to introduce any legislation. A simple administrative change would suffice. It would give people the right to freely change employer to ensure they are not exploited, and that what was outlined on the audio tape, which shamed us as Irish people, will never again be visited upon people. I am frightened to think that any of my six uncles and two aunts who emigrated in the 1940s and 1950s, or any others who emigrated, would have been subjected to what I heard about. I was ashamed to be Irish on hearing it.
I am aware of the audio recording. It refers specifically to a person employed in the home. I referred to people employed in somebody else's home in my response. The issue of constitutional protection of the place of residence arises.
If a person is being exploited in his work relationship, we will change his permit within four weeks. We have an express procedure in place——
At what cost?
——to facilitate him.
If anybody is aware of an incident in which any worker, a migrant or otherwise, has been mistreated, he should inform the relevant authorities. NERA comes in for a lot of criticism in this House.
It will be subjected to more.
However, it is resourced with 90 inspectors, ten of whom have foreign language skills, to assist people in this position. I am happy that those arrangements offer the maximum protection we can give at this time.
To follow on from Deputy Penrose, domestic workers are clearly exposed. We know that from the MRCI, which tells us that the majority of complaints it receives are from the domestic employment sector. I heard the audio recording to which Deputy Penrose referred.
I accept the Minister of State's point on NERA not being able to inspect the home. Is he considering doing anything in particular to try to rule out the exploitation that is taking place, particularly of domestic workers who were isolated? Their circumstances are shocking. I agree with Deputy Penrose that the audio recording was shocking. Clearly, the circumstances described are fairly widespread in the domestic sector.
The allegation that the circumstances described are widespread in the domestic sector has no independent evidence to support it. Our hands are tied by the protections we give to the primary domestic residence, particularly as a place of employment. The issue is far broader than that of protection.
If anybody in this House or outside it is aware of a worker in any circumstances being mistreated——
They are afraid to tell us.
NERA is in operation and we have procedures in place to switch a work permit quickly.
I am happy with the controls we have in place. We were criticised yesterday for issuing too many permits, yet today people are looking for more permits. I am happy with the level of control in place and that NERA has enough inspectors, including inspectors with foreign language skills, to address the problem.
If a person is deemed to have a scarce skill that is needed in this country, why does the Minister not allow that person to change employer during the currency of his permit and in respect of the skill for which the permit was granted? I do not refer to the extension of the permit but to moving employer during the currency of the permit. Has the Minister of State considered this? It is an issue that the group felt was reasonable.
In that context, why charge the permit holder anything? The Minister already knows who the permit holders are and has already authenticated their necessary skills. When they want to change employer, why charge them?
We have developed a vacancy-driven employment permit system. We are happy that there are controls on permits in place. The issue of charging people who must change for whatever reason, particularly those in an abusive relationship, is one that I am willing to consider but the system we have in place has evolved and we made substantial changes thereto in June 2009 to reflect current market conditions. One should remember the system cannot operate in isolation from our current labour market conditions.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.