Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Dr. Trant is getting most of the questions. In my last days in the private sector I negotiated a deal for shop-floor workers which gave an individual education and training budget to the employee as part of the salary package. At the time I was encouraged by SIPTU to go down that line on upskilling and automation in order to be able to see how the jobs will go, and prepare a workforce to change and be able to stay in the industry.

It is related to lifelong learning, upskilling and automation. Is there a way to encourage employers into investing in this?

Is it possible to expand tax relief for employees on the average industrial wage in order that they can upskill? Has that option been examined?

As a society we do not sufficiently value apprenticeships and what they can contribute. Has a cost-benefit analysis or any research been conducted on the cost of bringing an apprentice through the system compared to a graduate, and the economic gain to society? There has been less investment by the State in the education of low-skilled workers, and there is no system in place to allow them to get involved in education later in life. Should an educational budget be applied to individuals for life? It might not suit a person to go to university at 18 but it might suit him or her to go at 28, and a budget could be assigned to each person through their lives. Society is changing rapidly.

We also heard about high-skilled workers. The issue was partially addressed through the permit scheme. One of the issues has been raised with me concerns people who want to travel at Christmas but who had to surrender their passport to get the permit. The indications they have from their colleagues is that they might not get their passport back in time. We heard evidence at another committee. Could we give guarantees to people who are in that position to the effect that if they have to surrender their passport to secure a permit, it will be returned in sufficient time for them to travel? Strong evidence was given to this committee in that regard. If it is wrong, let us kill it, but that is what was said.

There was a protest outside Leinster House this morning about stamp 4 visas. I encounter the issue regularly as there are major hospitals and high-tech industries in my constituency . High-skilled people have been encouraged into the country but their partners are left in limbo. Is any work being done in that regard? The figure Ms Dunne gave for October was that 1,520 permits were issued and she referred to growth. I am concerned that the system would be used as a salary cap for low-paid workers in the industry. Usually, where markets need workers, the salaries increase. I would be concerned if employers are using permits to reduce salaries.

I am interested in the pilot scheme for the 800 visas. How many of the new permits are related to the pilot scheme? Is it 100, 200 or 300? The conditions attached to the pilot scheme are clear in regard to English language classes and accommodation but there is no inspection regime others than by means of complaint. The WRC only reacts to complaints but the permit is tied to the employer. If I came to Ireland from Brazil to work in a meat factory and I was not getting my entitlements in respect of accommodation or training, I could lose my visa if I made a complaint and be sent home and then the complaint would disappear. If a pilot scheme is in place, there must be an inspection regime that is clear and can be checked and validated. Based on replies to parliamentary questions, a validation scheme does not appear to be attached to the pilot scheme and checks are only made in response to a complaint. If that is the case, a person on a work permit would be like an indentured servant and could be used to maintain a salary cap in low-paid work.