Ms Clare Dunne:

Absolutely. My Department worked very closely with the Department of Justice and Equality in developing a response to the Supreme Court judgment some months ago. I will answer the Deputy's question directly. At the time, the answer was "No". There was no inventory or way of knowing what particular skills many of these people had. It was a challenge to try to figure out where they might find employment once they had the permission to do so. The employment permission accorded to asylum seekers or people who are seeking international protection is a scheme run by the Department of Justice and Equality. It is not an employment permit scheme. I recall that in the course of the review we did on economic migration we set up an interdepartmental committee that is still sitting. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection undertook to go out and begin precisely that process. Because that Department had the expertise and the manpower to do so, they undertook to start and go through these, as best they could, on a regional basis. I do not know where they have got to with that exercise, but I can find out and provide a written response to the Deputy. I do not have up-to-date figures but I can get them. I understand, however, that the take-up of employment opportunities on the part of the asylum seeker cohort was quite low. This is a pity. We are hopeful that this might change over time.