Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Let us deal with that. Permits will be issued and can be renewed on a two year basis. The Minister may then bring in regulations under section 7 to allow "such longer period" as the Minister may determine. Does that afford people the sort of stake in Ireland that is critical to creating the social cohesion we need in the long term?

The view of those who have made submissions to me and no doubt also to the Minister is that there will be two categories of migrants under these proposals, determined by income. I would welcome the Minister's comments on this. One category will be regarded as more valuable than another and will have greater entitlements and rights. I am concerned about that. We will await the Minister's clear explanation on Committee Stage but this issue may not be absolutely clear until we see the detailed regulations. I hope the Minister will bring these to the House for debate.

We already have the notion that large corporations such as Intel can come and go as they like but there are other categories that must go through a different set of hoops. One example with which we all have grappled in recent years is that of people who have a legitimate entitlement to work here, and on whom we depend, who have difficulty bringing their family members to settle here. The Minister would have direct knowledge of this through his experience of the health services.

See this speech in context