Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy John Browne, and express my gratitude to the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, for his contribution.

The Employment Permits Bill 2003 allows for full freedom of access to the labour market by nationals of new EU member states with effect from May 2004. It ensures that on joining the European Union, nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia will no longer require work permits to take up employment in Ireland.