Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

This section provides that a non-national may not take up or be in employment in the State in the absence of a permit issued by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It creates offences for non-compliance by an employer or an employee and provides for penalties where such an offence occurs. It also sets out the categories for non-nationals to which the requirement for an employment permit does not apply.

It provides a legal basis for the operation of Community preference should a requirement for employment permits for nationals of new member states be re-imposed under section 3.