Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:160 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the spouses of persons granted work permits are automatically debarred from availing of opportunities to become employed in the Irish labour market and that this is in conflict with the practice in other EU jurisdictions; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that the need to consolidate the stability in domestic terms of the person to whom a work permit has been granted is enhanced by extending to their spouse, male or female, the possibility of seeking and obtaining employment, in their own right, within the Irish economy; if she has plans to change the present restrictive system; the precise steps she proposes to take; when those steps will be announced and implemented; when she expects the procedures to be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18565/03]
