Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 27:

In page 11, line 5, to delete “or civil partner,” and substitute the following:“, civil partner, or the former spouse or civil partner where a separation has occurred during the period of employment in the state”.

The logic of the legislation allows for, in certain situations, a partner to work when he or she comes with the permit holder to this country. Obviously there is a difficulty in that situation if there is a relationship breakdown in that one of the partners might find himself or herself in a nowhere zone. The aim of this amendment is to ensure that the civil partner, former spouse or civil partner, in the event of a separation occurring during the period of employment, would be able to gain access to work. It would be shocking to contemplate that a partner would be living here for a number of years, would possibly have children here but would have to leave a job or indeed, leave the country in the event of a relationship breakdown.