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Gnáthamharc

Work Permits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2004

Tuesday, 10 February 2004

Ceisteanna (56)

Joe Sherlock

Ceist:

127 Mr. Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the criticism made by the former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, of the work permit system, particularly in so far as it requires persons with permits to work for one employer only; her views on the comments made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3801/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am aware of the comments in question and welcome the opportunity to set out the position on this issue. At present, the work permit facility grants the permit to an employer to recruit a specific employee to fill a specific vacancy, where the employer has been unable to find a suitable employee within Ireland or the wider European Economic Area. This arrangement does have the safeguard that the non-EEA employee in question is coming to fill a specific vacancy, an important factor when most of the personnel in question are at the lower end of the skills spectrum.

Despite assertions to the contrary, in recent years, work permit personnel have being readily facilitated in changing employers and in such circumstances a new work permit is issued to a new, eligible, employer. This flexibility has being possible and warranted by the relatively high number of vacancies arising in recent years. I should mention that in 2002 some 3,888 work permit employees changed employer, while in 2003 this number was 3,512, or an average of 68 per week.

I suggest to the Deputy that current reality does not support accusations that the work permit facility resembles bonded servitude.

If we were to move to a situation where a work permit was given to the individual employee, we would, in effect, be giving an authorisation to come to Ireland in search of an employer. Such a system is not impossible but it does give rise to a number of serious policy questions and does raise very significant resource issues. Any informed decision to move to a new system should take these into account.

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