Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 48:

In page 46, line 30, to delete “or”.

This amendment is grouped with a number of amendments which deal with the renewal and revocation of permits for seasonal workers. The majority of the amendments are consequential cross-references and technical amendments to provide for the inclusion of the seasonal employment permit in the pre-existing provisions for renewal and revocation.

The purpose of this group is to insert the seasonal employment permit into the sections covering other types of permits. I draw the House's attention to particular amendments which contain specific additional conditions, such as amendment No. 49, which requires that the renewal of a seasonal employment permit must be made by the employer in question. It also requires that the employer must be registered as an approved seasonal employer at that point.

Amendment No. 54 sets out that a renewed seasonal permit will only be enforced during the period for which it is renewed. This should be taken to mean it can only be valid for the season which is to be prescribed in regulation and the permit will then not provide valid employment or migration permission outside of the set season.

Amendment No. 59 provides for similar grounds for refusal of renewal where the seasonal employment permit holder has spent a continuous period of one month outside the State during that seven-month season. This is a pro rated period based on the standard rule for general employment permits.

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