Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 6

Priority Questions. - Asylum Seekers.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

43 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued to asylum seekers since the Government decision of July 1999; if her attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by groups working with asylum seekers and employers regarding the cumbersome and bureaucratic nature of the procedures involved; the plans, if any, she has to review the procedures with a view to their simplification; the further plans, if any, she has to issue the permits direct to asylum seekers seeking work rather than to employers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25017/99]

Ms Harney

Since the Government decision of 26 July last certain categories of asylum seekers have been allowed to seek employment in this country. A total of 2,100 asylum seekers immediately qualified to seek employment on this basis. To date a total of 90 applications have been received by my Department in respect of such asylum seekers, and a total of 53 permits have been approved.

Once an application has been received in my Department in respect of an asylum seeker, it is immediately referred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to check if the person concerned is eligible under the terms of the Government decision of July last. If the person is eligible, then a permit is immediately issued. Priority is given to applications in respect of asylum seekers to ensure that they are dealt with quickly.

Nevertheless, it is my intention to ask the Government to approve the removal of the requirement for an employer to obtain a work permit before employing asylum seekers. Listed eligible asylum seekers will be issued with a suitable identification letter which the employer can simply verify before offering employment.

Mr. Rabbitte

Does the Minister agree that putting the onus on the employer to make the application is undermining the entire system. The asylum seeker must first find an employer. That employer must be willing to make application with a fee. It takes at least a month, if not longer, to process it. This is undermining the entire system. The 26 July Cabinet decision was described by the Minister in the House as an exceptional measure. For an exceptional measure to have delivered 90 applications some six months later is absurd.

Mrs. Owen

We have only delivered 53.

Mr. Rabbitte

There are 53 permits.

Mrs. Owen

A little more than 2 per cent.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy is out of order in speaking on Priority Questions.

Ms Harney

It was an exceptional measure because no other Government ever did it, or recognised that asylum seekers should have the right to seek employment. It was not an easy decision to arrive at. Notwithstanding that, it is four months in place. Clearly a number of problems have arisen. I anticipated that the numbers expressing interest would be much larger. Employers have told me that asylum seekers are afraid to give names in many cases because of what might happen if they do. The simplest thing is to give all those who qualify a letter. Then they can search for a job and be granted a permit. I hope the new system will confirm what I believe, that many of the people who are here are here in search of opportunity and, if given the chance, they will access that opportunity.

Mr. Rabbitte

When I say it is an exceptional measure, the implication is that it was designed to deal with a crisis. So far, only 53 work permits have been issued. That is plainly inadequate. Is the Minister saying that the changes she has now put on the record have been approved by Government and are operable from a current date?

Ms Harney

The changes have not been formally approved by the Government. They will go to Government next week, but they have been agreed by all the relevant Ministers in recent days. Deputy Owen is shaking her head. No Minister has looked at the work permits legislation in the past 30 years. The same practice has been followed. That is why we are putting it on a statutory basis. The procedure at the moment is that an employer applies for a work permit in respect of someone to whom he wishes to give employment. To change that requires a Government decision.

Mr. Rabbitte

We did not have net migration into this country in the past 30 years, generally speaking. Is the Minister saying that her Department, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or both Departments together, will, as soon as the Government approves this decision next week, issue a letter to all eligible asylum seekers within the jurisdiction who have been here more than 12 months?

Ms Harney

That is the intention. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has agreed to do this. I do not believe there is any opposition to it, but one never knows.