Professor Siobhán Mullally:

In the recommendations we are making we recognise the possibility of a restriction in terms of a time limit of six months. After that, any restrictions on occupational areas or particular job sectors, as the chief commissioner said in the opening statement - it is also in the policy document - should be as transparent and as limited as possible. We advocate the importance of a skills profile of asylum seekers who are here and access to vocational training to ensure people can transition into employment and in the longer term to think about inclusion in the workplace. If there are to be any restrictions on occupational areas, we would argue they should be as limited as possible and there should be a transparent debate around it. It is not clear it is necessary to protect the job market. Already, those who come seeking protection in Ireland and elsewhere are very vulnerable. They will already face barriers in terms of transitioning to new communities and will have a time limit of some sort placed on them. We do not see it as being essential from the perspective of the State but if there are to be any restrictions, they should be transparent. There should be open and public debate around them and they should be as limited as possible.