Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the words of welcome. I apologise as, while I saw some of the presentation on screen, I was caught up with another meeting.

I will be brief. It is great to see the fluid and flexible nature of the business relationship and the enthusiasm to bring it along and to encourage more foreign direct investment into this country, hopefully to our mutual benefit. We know that is business and that business requires reciprocal benefits on each side. In all manner and means, we are very geared towards that here and I know it is something the Minister, Deputy Bruton, in particular, pursues doggedly.

At a certain level we have agreements and arrangements but in the context of Irish citizens in the United States who do not have permits and are not there legally, would it be worth considering that American citizens should get work permits for this country? A reciprocal arrangement could be set up to our mutual benefit. I am surprised that approach has not been pursued. For example, we issue 50,000 working visas to the US and it does the same for us in exchange. A similar arrangement is in operation with Australia. Citizens immediately know a programme exists of which they can avail.

Senator Clune referred to skills shortages in the ICT sector. At times there are difficulties obtaining work permits, although I accept there is a high success rate. Unfortunately, it seems that key personnel fail to transfer. I accept the skilled workers we want are not confined to the US but we could take it to the next level and allow US citizens to come to this country to work, if that is what they want, rather than always going there to ask for help. We are a small open economy and the United States is a good friend. If we take such an approach on a reciprocal basis perhaps it would be more appealing to the US Government and the various interests in that country. It would also mean that American citizens could follow their investment money.