Ms Clare Dunne:

We will be exercising extreme vigilance in the development of the seasonal permit. We recognise that we are disadvantaging certain sectors and certain companies at the moment. They are finding workarounds. Many of them are working very hard to bring in seasonal workers from across the EEA, but this is becoming increasingly difficult, for example, with some of the Baltic states or the eastern European states. We want to do something for them but we are very much aware that there is the potential for risks. The Senator mentioned the nine-month permit. I tend to agree that nine months is at the very outer limit of a seasonal permit. We are engaging with the sector on an individual basis, such as with companies that are big employers in the sector. From the meetings we have had thus far, I am reassured that most of the issues about which we have concerns already are being addressed. They make the point to us that they invest a lot in these people, they train them when they come in and they invest in skills development. The companies want those people to come back year in and year out. Employers do not want the seasonal workers simply for four months and then be obliged to go back to the trough again next year. The areas we are concerned about include access to suitable accommodation and the employer not being allowed to make any deductions directly from the salary. Moreover, any remuneration package would have to be above the minimum wage. We want to see provisions for these built into the scheme. There will be extensive consultation with ICTU and the employers' side as we move to develop the scheme. We will leave no stone unturned. Initially, we might do something on a pilot basis. I would not exclude that. At the least, we need in the legislation the provision to allow us to be flexible. At the moment we simply cannot, and our hands are tied in that regard. This is just an example of the inflexibility of the system. I accept all of the points the Senator has made. We will be looking at all of those aspects.