Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I join with Deputies Deasy and Andrews in saying it is timely to be discussing the report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs on migration in the same week in which Europe Day falls. I look forward to the question and answer session as regards some of the issues that have been raised in the context of the report.

We in Ireland have been full and enthusiastic participants in the European project right from the beginning. We have participated constructively in all of the major initiatives at European level, from economic and monetary union and the euro, to the opening of labour markets to new members of the European Union. Even though we are a small country in terms of scale, we have played an important part in the development of the EU, not least through the contribution our hosting of the EU Presidencies has made to making progress on key issues on the European agenda.

I welcome the fact the Joint Committee on European Affairs has made immigration part of its programme of work. I agree with the committee that immigration is a major issue for us and one on which we should focus. It represents a new challenge to Irish society. In many ways it is a sign of our success in growing the economy and creating jobs that our challenges have changed from emigration to inward migration. We have also experienced this significant inward migration in a relatively short period. A total of 9% of our workforce, or 170,000 workers, are foreign nationals. Other EU countries have similar proportions of foreign national workers but the difference is that in those countries these proportions were built up over a generation while we have reached this level within a couple of years. There is no doubt this provides us with challenges to address.

Those from the EU-10 countries who joined the EU in May 2004 make up 3% of our workforce, or 62,000 workers. We know from Revenue data that the number of these nationals who have worked here at some time since May 2004 is greater — at about 135,000 — thus many of them will have worked here for a while before returning to their home countries.

I agree with Deputies Deasy and Andrews that the decision by the Government to grant immediate free access to the labour market for nationals of the new member states from May 2004 was the correct one. In its recent study on economic migration, which was done in conjunction with Forfás, the expert skills group on future skills needs has identified key sectors of the economy that still remain problematic in terms of skills issues. Sometimes this gets masked in terms of the overall debate about displacement and other such matters.

I do not say there are no issues to be addressed but we should focus on the fact that we still have significant shortages of people in information and communications technologies, health care, research and development and engineering. This poses a challenge to our education and training systems but, equally, highlights the ongoing need for a strong, properly managed economic migration policy. As Deputy Deasy stated, workers from these countries have been significantly contributing to our economic growth through a diverse range of activities and occupations. Many of them have been working in the construction sector in particular, and this has allowed us to address our infrastructural deficit more quickly than we would otherwise have been able to do. Many others have also been engaged in the manufacturing, catering and hospitality and agricultural sectors to the benefit of businesses and consumers.

As regards future accessions to the EU and our policy on labour market access for their nationals, in particular that of Romania and Bulgaria, the Government will take a decision in this regard before the accession of these countries and after consultation with the social partners, as has been agreed. As the Taoiseach stated, it is a pity the other member states across Europe have not opened their borders like Ireland, Sweden and the UK did at the outset. Deputy Andrews referred to this point also. Our decision on economic migration outside of the EU will be closely linked to labour market trends, which is defensible. It is important we would always have a clear linkage between economic migration and labour market trends.

New arrangements for the labour market participation of workers from outside the European Economic Area will be put in place by the end of this year, after the Employment Permits Bill has been passed by the Oireachtas. I hope that will be done in the next couple of weeks. As part of these new arrangements, we will introduce a new green card system for workers from outside the European Economic Area for occupations where strategic high skills shortages exist which cannot be met from within the European Union. Under this system, green cards will be issued for two years initially and will normally provide a pathway to long-term or permanent residency and citizenship thereafter. This will help address the skills deficits which are likely to persist for some time in key sectors of the economy, particularly in the areas of information technology, health care and construction, and in the financial services, internationally traded services and pharmaceutical or biotechnology sectors.

In terms of the challenges before us, the integration of those who come from overseas is a major area of concern. Integration is a multidimensional process. I agree with the findings of the report of the joint committee that we need to deal with the economic and social issues which migration raises in a way that is joined up. The current response appears to be to create a Department to deal with particular problems that arise. I agree we need more co-ordination in the areas of housing, health and social welfare but we have expertise in existing Departments that deal very well with those issues.

My Department has teamed up with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to create a one-stop-shop facility in terms of work, residency and so forth for migrant workers. I would like to further explore the issue of co-ordination with committee members. We accept the matter must be addressed but I am not sure if it is necessary to create a new Department. For example, we could devise a similar model to that which was done in the area of children where a cross-cutting Minister of State was created.

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