John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who apologises for his absence today on amendment No. 1 indicated his intention to propose an enabling provision to the Bill to allow the Government's decision on whether to grant labour market access to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania on their accession to the European Union to be implemented by ministerial order. Amendment No. 1, as agreed by the Seanad, does this.

Amendment No. 3 was proposed on advice of Parliamentary Counsel and makes the reference to section 10 of the 2003 Act more specific by referring to paragraphs (a) to (d) of that section.

Amendment No. 2 concerns subsections (2) and (3) of section 9, which relate to information that will accompany or be included on an employment permit. This amendment, which was proposed on the advice of Parliamentary Counsel, is necessary to take account of an amendment agreed on Report Stage in the Dáil to the effect that an employment permit should include or be accompanied by a summary of the principal employment rights of the employee.

Amendment No. 4 is a technical amendment, proposed on the advice of Parliamentary Counsel, which merely puts brackets around the figure "2".

Amendment No. 5 was tabled by Deputy Howlin on Report Stage in the Dáil and the Minister was disposed toward accepting it. Accordingly he put it forward for consideration on Committee Stage in the Seanad. The amendment will result in uniformity in the entitlement of permits of unlimited duration after five years, irrespective of whether the employee or employer is the applicant.

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