Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 4, subsection (3), lines 13 to 16, to delete paragraph (b).

The purpose of the amendment is to delete the penalty on indictment in relation to the offence of employing a non-national without a work permit. We discussed this issue in the context of the Immigration Bill. This provision is heavy-handed. I do not agree with the imposition of a penalty. It is necessary to prohibit the employment of non-nationals without work permits but this penalty is heavy-handed. There are situations where employers would and have employed non-nationals without necessarily setting out to exploit them.