Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I certainly understand the background against which Deputies Howlin and Morgan have argued these points. I am not disposed to accepting the amendment, however, because in practical terms it is much easier — and more likely to be successful — to have the employer advertise the job, find the employee and make the application. The safeguard provided addresses their concerns in that the permit is granted to the employee. Therefore, the employee's level of control is far beyond what is currently the case and which gave rise to the concerns expressed by those Deputies and many others. In practical terms, it would be difficult to operate the system if an employee had to be the applicant. That is the principal reason we have a sufficient safeguard. We have provided for an application to be made for the permit in a sensible manner.

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