Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The one advantage with the employer applying is that one can go to source quickly. One can ask for the books and state if the employer does not rectify what he or she has done wrong, he or she will never get a work permit again and the sanctions of the Bill will be applied.

Senator Mansergh raised the issue of the information on the work permit. The agreed remuneration rate will be on the work permit and will include registered employment agreements. The work permit will not issue unless the level of remuneration the employer is prepared to offer is clear in the application. Senator Norris raised the issue of self-interest and the salary thresholds pertaining to issuing of a green card. Senator Mansergh also mentioned payment rates.

In my speech I mentioned the significant work undertaken by Forfás and the expert skills group. That work, which we published prior to the Bill, informed much of the philosophy behind the Bill. Economic migration works if it is sustainable. If only low-skilled workers were brought in, the impact on social services, education and social welfare could quickly become unsustainable. I acknowledge that more work needs to be done internationally on this, but the evidence is that high-skilled inward migration assists the sustainability of the entire project. The green card system is for non-EU citizens, and this year we only issued 9,000 new work permits on top of approximately 20,000 reissued permits.

We know we have skills shortages in this country, and an expert group has identified clearly where they are. Required personnel include professionals in engineering or construction, financial services, health and research and development, which will increasingly be a function of State investment. It is important that we have the capacity to bring such people to Ireland. There are a number of ways this can be done but we went for the salary threshold methodology. The Bill gives a framework which can change over time, and I favour this approach. That is the reason regulations are important. It gives us flexibility without having to come back all the time with primary legislation. Regulations would have to be laid before the House, as is the case with all other regulations.

We have struck the correct balance. We have skills shortages and there is a degree of self-interest. No country in the world has an open situation where anybody can come in. With regard to the European experience, the ESRI carried out a study suggesting we are not maximising or optimising the skill levels of those coming from EU states. It is important that economic migration policy is managed to try to maximise economic growth. Ultimately, if added value comes from a migration policy and there is economic growth, it perpetuates a good scenario and cycle. Difficulties can arise if this does not come about.

The biggest challenge facing us will be integration.