Ms Fiona Ward:

Workers rights, the proposals on the living wage and statutory sick pay really fall outside the remit of this legislation and the general scheme. However, all workers in the State, including migrant workers, are protected and have the same rights and protections as Irish workers under the relevant measures on rights and entitlements.

Within the employment permit system, we have a number of inbuilt protections for migrant workers. They have to have a written contract of employment and they hold the employment permit themselves. They get the original copy of the permit. The employer cannot deduct recruitment costs from the workers' salaries. There are remuneration thresholds that have to be met. We print on all the employment permits the-----