Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I am speaking on the use of the words "grant" and "granting" which are important. The former alone is the key to the Bill.

The Bill is generally worthy and satisfactory in its restrictions on businesses employing people without permits. However, if amendments are not made on Report Stage to provide for a mechanism to restrict numbers from the 15 applicant countries, boatloads will arrive in Dublin Port within two days of 4 May 2004. It is well known throughout Europe that we have the most welcoming, beneficial and hospitable environment for people from abroad – rightly so – but at what cost? We must bear in mind that the people concerned will be entitled to all the services, facilities and social welfare benefits available in the State.

I do not want to sound reactionary because I am not. I have welcomed those who have come to my area and played an important role. We are talking about the expansion of the European Union and opportunities in the marketplace. From 2004 we should only admit as many as are needed to fill the vacancies unfilled by Irish people. We cannot have a situation where 2,000 extra are required in the construction industry and 10,000 non-nationals come to Ireland to take up those jobs. In that case some 8,000 would be left in the State, relying on the system which would have to support them. I am not being a prophet of doom but with a war raging in Iraq we do not know what the world order or the price of oil will be and there may be a crisis if the war is prolonged.