Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

That was the motivation for tabling the amendment. It was pointed out, quite correctly, on Committee Stage that a time period should lapse to be reasonable and to allow people to tidy up their affairs before leaving the country. I hoped, by tabling this amendment which provides for an eight week period, to get an amendment from the Minister that would go some distance towards our position, rather than remaining at zero weeks. Effectively, at present the legislation states that the moment one's permit elapses, one must leave within the hour and while the interpretations of Departments may vary, that is the law.

Members must try to ensure that safeguards are put in place to allow people a reasonable length of time in which to be able to either renew their permit or, in this case, when all avenues have been exhausted and the permit has lapsed, to go home or elsewhere. I tabled an amendment with an eight week period for discussion purposes on Committee Stage and have done so again on Report Stage. I had hoped the Minister would take the opportunity to insert a period of three or four weeks to give some leeway to those caught in such a situation, often through no fault of their own, where the employer might decide to terminate employment or where the administrative process in Departments might be to blame for the way in which people are treated. I am disappointed the Minister has not seen fit to table his own amendment or to accept this one.

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