Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 1

Written Answers. - Work Permits.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

152 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the applications which were made for work visas by a company (details supplied) for foreign workers employed on board the Jack Bates rig operating off the west coast; if her Department has established the number of workers operating on the rig; if her Department has established the number of Irish nationals, EU nationals and non-EU nationals operating; if individual work visas were obtained for non-EU nationals employed; and the mechanism which was used by the company to get those work visas. [21563/02]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I understand that the Jack Bates rig which recently operated off the Donegal coast was not owned by the company named in the question, but by another company. My Department has been informed that the named company had no role in recruiting for the rig in question.

Inquiries made by my Department from the exploration company in question which contracted for the rig indicate that the number of personnel on board fluctuated between 78 and 114 persons and that all held EU passports.