Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Unlike Deputy Morgan, I was quite alarmed by the Minister's response. The Tánaiste made a clear declaration to the House when she was in the Minister's Department she would bring in this legislation to effect a transfer of the work permit from the employer to the employee. It is years since that commitment was made but it is still a matter of debate. Does the Minister agree there is an unanswerable case that the work permit should accrue to the individual and not the company so the threat of deportation which is often made — I have dealt with such cases — is not available to an employer? It is a simple matter of registration with employment to ensure that the known employer complies with all normal regulations relating to pay etc. At least the right to stay in the country is held by the individual. I want a firm commitment that the information imparted to the House by the Tánaiste is not now being resiled from by her successor.

See this speech in context