Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Given that the publication of the scheme is a bit down the road yet, let us make sure that the anomalies are dealt with. Anomaly number two is the patent unfairness of a situation whereby an undocumented fisher potentially has a clear path to avail of the scheme and obtain the visa stamp 4 that comes with it, freeing that person to work for any employer in any sector, a crew mate who is currently enrolled in the atypical scheme and who may well have been enrolled in the scheme for four years or more, will be denied access to the scheme and is condemned to remain on a comparatively disadvantageous visa stamp one, which must be renewed annually and ties the person to one employer, which often does not result in good treatment. Can the Minister see the potential unfairness and divisiveness that could be contained in this scheme, and that she still has time to avert this while the details are finalised?

I received a letter from the Taoiseach last week, clearly drafted by somebody from the Minister's Department, where they rolled back on what the Taoiseach said to me in the Dáil, and specifically said that fishers in the atypical scheme will be excluded. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that this is not the case, and to give the fishers in the atypical work permit scheme equal access to a visa stamp 4.

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