Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I accept that some of these permits being issued are new work permits for people who may have fallen out of the system - it is important that such people are given legitimate status - and for people who may be leaving one employment for another in the same sector. However, new employment permits are still being issued in the agriculture and catering areas and in the domestic and services industries. Many of these permits are for low-skilled jobs. A total of 185,000 people lost their jobs last year. Is the Minister of State not concerned about the proportion of new permits being issued compared to 2006? One would imagine that there would have been far more new permits, proportionately, issued at a time when the economy was expanding? Will the Minister of State carry out a review to ensure that the people currently residing here, whether Irish or non-Irish, have the opportunity to gain employment and be taken off the live register?

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