Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in the forthcoming changes that we are all eagerly awaiting. I will not repeat what the Minister has said about various sections of the Bill, which are essential house-keeping. We have seen the shortcomings and, as the Minister pointed out, there has been some case law in this regard. This legislation effectively tidies up the case law in reaction to loopholes that have been identified within that case law.
Over the years, we were all shocked and horrified to hear of illegal immigrants being exploited in work, be it collecting mushrooms or working in kitchens, the hospitality sector, warehouses or in back-rooms of certain minority businesses. It is wrong that they are here illegally, but their exploitation is even worse. They were paid a pittance, yet were expected to work double or triple the normal hours thus breaking the EU working time directive. When these stories hit the media, people were horrified.
In addition, due to loopholes in relevant case law, the exploiters got away with it. Two wrongs do not make a right, however, so we need to right those wrongs. Exploitation horrifies the vast majority of people. It is our duty and obligation to prevent exploitation however we can and wherever it occurs. The Bill is critical legislation. I assume that it is not being opposed by any part of the House.
We do not have a skills base in certain areas, including the ICT sector. When we need to acquire a skills base abroad so that our economy's architecture operates effectively, we must ensure it is both efficient and user-friendly, unlike so much in our society.
The Minister must be complimented on reorganising the permit structure which was described by those using it as being difficult, cumbersome, intimidating and not user-friendly. He has made significant progress in that regard. The Minister is also tying certain elements from other Departments into this legislation, particularly the justice area, which must also be welcomed.
I would like to have seen another provision in the Bill, although it is perhaps a matter for another day. It concerns students coming here to learn English who are allowed to get part-time jobs. We have seen the debacle with certain English-language schools closing and foreign students being left high and dry. That situation might need to be tightened up in future legislation.
We have also discussed ad nauseamthe issue of people in direct provision centres around the country. If people in direct provision have a skill to offer, they should be able to work and make a contribution to society, as well as paying their taxes. All too often, we hear about the undocumented illegal Irish in America and we all do our bit to campaign for them. To some extent, however, we should practice what we preach. There is a case for facilitating people in direct provision centres who have skills to offer. They should be able to exercise those skills, hopefully, in the not too distant future. I was very taken by a lady I met recently from a direct provision centre in Galway who had an unusual baking skill. Having listened to her story, I have no doubt that if she had the opportunity sell her produce she could make a good living for herself and her dependants. We need to look outside the box in this regard.
The legislation before us should get a swift passage through the House so that the Minister will be in a position to enact it soon.