Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 22:

In page 23, before section 25, to insert the following new section:

25.—(1) Whereupon the employment permit of a foreign national who is not

(a) a citizen of a European Union,

(b) a citizen of a European Economic Area country, or

(c) in possession of any permit that allows him or her to remain legally within the State,

expires or is revoked, he or she shall cease to be permitted to remain legally within the State after a period of 8 weeks has elapsed after the expiration or revocation of his or her employment permit, unless he or she obtains a permit under paragraph (c).

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

It was correctly pointed out on Committee Stage in the other House that a time period should elapse to allow people reasonable time to tidy up their affairs before leaving the country. I hope that, by tabling this amendment, which provides for an eight-week period, I may encourage the Minister to table an amendment going some way towards our position, rather than allowing no such time period.

At present, the legislation effectively states that one must leave within the hour as soon as one's permit lapses. While Departments' interpretations may vary, that is the law. Members must try to ensure that safeguards are put in place to allow people a reasonable length of time in which to renew their permit or, where the permit has lapsed and all avenues have been exhausted, to return home or go elsewhere.

My colleague, Deputy Hogan, tabled an amendment with an eight-week period for discussion on Committee Stage and Report Stage in the other House. I had hoped that the Minister might have taken the opportunity to insert a period of three or four weeks to allow some leeway to those caught in such a situation, often through no fault of their own. The employer might decide to terminate the employment, and the administrative process in the Departments might be to blame for the way that people are treated. Perhaps the Minister, in the absence of his own amendment, might be disposed to accept this one.