Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I, too, welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am glad this legislation is being implemented. It is important social legislation which has a good economic background. Indeed, the Minister referred to an economic managed framework for employment. Over the past 12 months there was a plethora of cases — there is a new one every day — involving the wrong type of employment being given to people from other countries and in particular we heard about the abuses that have been perpetrated. The Minister did his very best in the Gama case but he was unable to get the necessary information to fully address the problem.

The procedures relating to the application grant and refusal of work permits are clear in this legislation. The Bill allows the Minister to introduce a green card type system for highly skilled migrant workers. That was necessary and perhaps when replying the Minister will indicate if that system has been introduced. In the case of a firm in Moate, a mathematician from India was the only person with the necessary skills for the computing type work available. He was the only one the employer could take on but he was not allowed to bring him into the country. When he eventually got him in his wife was not permitted to join him. It was a nightmare and a quagmire of giving with one hand and taking with the other. With this Bill the Minister will put a proper framework on many conflicting legislative measures governing the employment arena and that is welcome.

The Bill provides a number of new important protections for migrant employees. I gather the employer, and this is interesting, will continue to request the work permit but it is issued in the name of the employee. Is that correct?