Mr. Martin:

This amendment was tabled by Deputy Howlin on Report Stage in the Dáil but was not moved. I was disposed to accept it and now put it forward accordingly. Its effect is that there will be uniformity in the entitlements to permits of unlimited duration after five years, irrespective of whether the employee or employer is the applicant. If subsection (5) remained, it would have the unintended effect that if original and renewal permit applications were made by the employee, he or she would not be entitled to a permit of unlimited duration after five years, whereas if those applications were made by the employer, such a permit could be granted after that time. Essentially, it corrects an anomaly that was never intended. It was pointed out in the other House, and we were disposed to accept it.