Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The documentation that must be submitted to demonstrate that a dismissal was by reason of redundancy will be set out in regulations. As Minister, I must be satisfied that the dismissal was a genuine redundancy in order to prevent abuse of this provision, which is based on fairness principles, so that someone who through no fault of his or her own was made redundant has another chance to get a job. The kind of documentation likely to satisfy me as Minister that there was a genuine redundancy would include a copy of the P45 but I will also accept other documentation, such as declarations from the employer as to the date, reason for dismissal, etc. I stand over these requirements as they establish the bona fides of the circumstances applying.

In practice, it is very rare that the Department comes across instances where such documentation has not been forthcoming from previous employers. Where this arises, my Department goes directly to the employer concerned and requests that the documentation be forwarded directly to the Minister. This intervention by my Department invariably resolves the matter without requiring the permit holder to engage with a previous employer that for whatever reason is dragging his or her feet in providing the documentation. I consider the amendment to be unnecessary and I will not accept it.

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