Ms Clare Dunne:

Absolutely.

The second question was about stamp 3 and dependent spouses and partners of critical skills permit holders. The stock answer is that they have almost full access to the labour market. We do not require a labour market needs test. They do not have to pay for their permits. That is a fact. The reality is that there is a perception problem. It is stated on a stamp 3 visa that spouses and partners are not allowed to work, and that is what employers think. That is a problem. Spouses and partners are allowed to work. Once they apply for a job, they can apply for a work permit and they will get a change of visa status. I accept that this has created problems. In the short term, we have done what we can in the Department. We have put up a notification on our website to explain the position exactly. We have also issued what we call "letters of support" to people in receipt of critical skills employment permits and those applying for such permits so that they can see clearly that if they have spouses or dependent partners who seek work, they will have almost full access to the labour market. The only work that they are not allowed to do is domestic work. As long as they work more than ten hours a week and they are paid the minimum wage, they can take any job in the economy. The Senator is correct that there is a perception issue and it is one of the issues on which we are working closely with the Department of Justice and Equality to find a solution. I hope the matter will be addressed in the short term.

I have met the stamp 3 association and I spent a lot of time with them. It was an education. My colleagues in the Department of Justice and Equality met with the association shortly afterwards. We are alive to the problem and we want to rectify it because the critical skills permit is vital and we want to make it as attractive as possible. We are working on that and I hope we will have a resolution soon.

The Senator also asked about low skills and people joining pilot schemes on lower wages. In my opening statement I indicated that up until recently we have been very much engaged at the higher end of the skills market and the higher end of the salary scale.

It has become apparent, however, that there are shortages at the lower skills and lower wage end in certain sectors, in particular in agriculture, and-----