Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Romanian and Bulgarian nationals can currently come to Ireland but have to apply for work permits. We could continue that arrangement and decide to give them preference over non-EEA nationals or issue work permits on the basis of job offers without the requirement to advertise with FÁS. A variety of options are available to us. We could decide to grant freedom of movement from January 2007, January 2009 or January 2012, with the comfort of a safeguard clause in the event of labour market disturbance, which would be negotiated with the Commission.

We have raised this issue at meetings and other member states are aware of Ireland's stance. The UK, Sweden and some other countries share our views. The immigration levels of many of these countries are similar to ours but we are different in terms of the rapidity by which migration to Ireland has increased. While we issued a mere 5,000 permits in 1999, we issued 50,000 by the end of 2003 and 165,000 by May 2004. By any objective benchmark, that is a significant level of immigration in a very short period of time. The issue now arises of managing immigration through integration and by developing sound policies on all fronts.

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