Seanad debates

Thursday, 27 March 2003

Employment Permits Bill 2003: Second Stage.

 

The question of penalties for employers who employ non-nationals came up during discussions on the Immigration Bill 2002. I do not disagree with penalties for employers but the legislation proposed was heavy-handed. I made the point to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that it was possible an employer might inadvertently employ a non-national whom he or she was not setting out to exploit. It is ironic that I would make such a point to the Minister given recent news. I do not understand the reason penalty provisions which recently featured in the Immigration Bill also feature here. To delete the provisions from the other Bill because the Employment Permits Bill will be passed first is to adopt a very ad hoc approach to law-making. It must be possible to provide for consultation between Departments. The scenario indicates a lack of planning on the part of the Government.

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