Section 2 of the Bill contains almost exactly the same provisions as sections 4 and 5 of the Immigration Bill 2003, which has already been passed by this House. Subsection (1) simply restates the present law – at Article 4(1) of the Aliens Order, 1946 which is to be revoked by subsection (12) of this section – making it an offence for a non-national to take up or be in employment in the State in the absence of an employment permit issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This reflects a key principle underpinning the economic migration regime in Ireland: that permission for non-EEA personnel to work in the State is a concession granted by the State rather than a right.