Dáil debates

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage

 

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

3:05 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies. There were unfortunately many detailed technical amendments on Report Stage, arising from the increasing obligation to have primary legislation to contain all the details, rather than rely on secondary regulations, which was a feature in the past. It requires, therefore, a level of perfection of the detailed regulatory provision in the House.

I apologise to the Deputies for the number of technical amendments consequential on that. I thank them for supporting this Bill. It is important to have modern legislation that is clear, workable and allows us deal with pressures that can arise in the labour market due to skill shortages while at the same time protecting employment opportunities for Irish people and those within the EEA.

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Sean Sherlock, and the officials for the assistance in passing this Bill. I also thank the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, MRCI, and the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, Nasc, for their assistance and input into the Bill.

It is an important Bill. We have to keep the system under review. It would be worthwhile if, six months from now, the Minister for Justice and Equality were to update the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on her changes. This could be the final business we do with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, ahead of the regime change that is under way. It is rather ironic that the Minister who is responsible for employment is not covered by his Department's redundancy and minimum notice provisions. We wish him well in the forthcoming game of chess.

3:15 pm

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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It might be more like a game of snakes and ladders than a game of chess. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na hoifigigh go léir sa Roinn a thug cabhair dúinn, go háirithe ar Chéim an Choiste. Bíonn deacrachtaí ann i gcónaí, ach b'fhéidir go raibh níos mó deacrachtaí i gceist sa chás seo. Is Bille uafásach tábhachtach é an Bille seo. Tá sé tábhachtach don gheilleagar. Tá súil agam go dtabharfaidh an reachtaíocht seo tacaíocht don gheilleagar as seo amach. Ní cheart go mbeimid leisciúil sa todhchaí. Caithfimid díriú isteach ar na daoine sa tír seo atá dífhostaithe, go háirithe iad siúd nach bhfuil na scileanna cuí acu. Ba chóir dúinn iarracht tréan a dhéanamh oideachas a thabhairt dóibh ionas go mbeidh siad in ann na postanna seo a líonadh. Tá níos mó ná 300,000 duine dífhostaithe sa tír seo. Ba cheart go mbeidís páirteach sa scéal seo freisin. Tá an reachtaíocht seo tábhachtach freisin dóibh siúd a thagann anseo ó thíortha eile. Is oth liom a rá go bhfuil sé fíor - uaireanta - nach mbíonn na caighdeáin céanna ag na daoine a thagann anseo. Ba cheart dúinn a chinntiú go bhfaigheann siad gach rud atá de dhíth orthu. Tá acmhainní de dhíth sa chóras seo. I mo chuid taithí, nuair a bhíonn daoine ag dul i dteagmháil leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála agus an Seirbhís Eadóirseachta agus Inimirce na hÉireann, is minic a bhíonn an-chuid moill ar an teagmháil eatarthu. Ba cheart go mbeadh níos mó airgid ag dul isteach sa Roinn sin ionas go mbeidh na hoifigigh in ann cabhair a thabhairt agus gach rud a dhéanamh go tapaidh. Bíonn sé an-deacair ar dhaoine nuair atá siad ag fanacht agus ag fanacht. Guím gach rath ar an Aire in the upcoming game of smakes and ladders. I am sure he will not be sliding downwards.

Question put and agreed to.

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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The Bill will now be sent to the Seanad.