Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The rapid increase in the number of work permits issued, in addition to the arrival of accession country citizens who have every right to work here, is putting new pressures on that section of the indigenous labour market which, for whatever reason, has been unable to find jobs in Ireland. These pressures are giving rise to prejudices and resentments which we are only beginning to measure. Against that background, has the Minister any intention of revisiting the social employment schemes and active labour market measures to enable those who are on the margin of the labour market to find the jobs they seek? By definition, immigrant workers are more hungry and tend to be more agile and better qualified.

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