Dr. Peter Rigney:

The work permit system is particularly complex. Every time a problem arises, those responsible decide to increase the number of permits from 43 to 44 or 45. The issue is difficult. The legislation is updated two or three times each year by statutory instrument. Committee members will know the problem with reading statutory instruments. For example, reference is made to deleting "a" and inserting "the" in paragraph 43 and so on. The main thing we advocate for is clarity in the setting of wages. There is a role for the industrial relations machinery of the State in the setting of wages.

The question of language is important too. It is true that we are a migrating country. I remember doing Irish for the leaving certificate. Two of the textbooks were about migrants. One was Rotha Mór an tSaoiland the other was Dialann Deoraí. The characters in both worked in England, America and Canada. They could all read a sign and dispute their wages with the foreman. We tend not to understand what it is like for people to come to Ireland who speak only Russian or Brazilian and do not really have a clue. An emphasis on language learning paid for by the employer is important. Some enlightened employers in the food sector have staff of long-standing who are eastern European or from EEA member countries. These employers are now paying for language learning. There are people who have been working for ten years and who are good at the job in question. The employers would love to promote them to supervisory positions but they simply do not have enough English to be able to do it properly. Those employers are now providing these types of skills. Language is key to understanding all of society, as is being able to assert one's rights throughout society.