Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their contributions and the general welcome in the House for the legislation. I would like to address a few points that have been raised.

I fundamentally believe this Bill represents the biggest reform to the employment permits legislation since the Act of 2006 and will result in many positive changes to Ireland's economic migration policy. It is positive for our economy as a whole and our people.

I was touched when Senator Ahearn said he addressed permits for English football clubs. I can assure him that several League of Ireland clubs, including Sligo Rovers and Bohemians, have received work permits in the past couple of weeks or since the season started. It pains me as a Shamrock Rovers fan to have issued those permits, but it is good for the league to see talent from outside the European Economic Area wanting to come here.

I really appreciate Senator Boyhan's detailed input on the agriculture sector, of which he has such personal, professional and political knowledge. He and I go back a long way and I have noted his knowledge at first hand in this Chamber. I noted it when I represented the small rural area of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. The IFA informed me yesterday at a protest that its 43 members in Glencullen are still there and had good votes in the last election and, indeed, a turnout of 100%.

We are always open to increasing the number of roles on the permitted occupations list for the agriculture sector. We expanded the list by 43 occupations before Christmas and we will carry out a review in due course. We work closely with the sector to ensure the quotas pertaining to the roles are appropriate to the needs of the sector. Ultimately, the permit holders are the people who will ensure we have food on our plates tomorrow morning and that supermarket shelves will be stocked with the very best of Irish-produced goods in so many areas. I turn to Senator Crowe's point on working with the business community. We are absolutely responsive. The roles on the critical skills and eligible lists are the roles we need. These are people who simply cannot be found in Ireland or across the European Economic Area, which is a broad space. The European Economic Area is the 27 EU member states, but also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the United Kingdom through the common travel agreement. We have a vast pool from which to get the best level of talent. When we are unable to find people to fill those roles it is not just people in Ireland, but people across the entire European Economic Area.

Senator Gavan made a point about equipping our secondary school and third level students and those already in the workforce with the necessary skills and the ability to upskill. That is something the Government is taking seriously. That is why we have seen more than 9,000 people enter apprenticeships last year, which was a massive increase over the previous couple of years and under better conditions. We are seeing more people in all forms of third level education. Third level is not just about the arts degree in UCD or UCC, or wherever Senator Ahearn and I went back in the day. It is about every form of further and higher education. The reforms in that sector are vital to future proofing the needs of our country. However, the tides have turned for this country. This is not the country many of us grew up in, which you simply left and which so many people had to leave. This is a country people want to come to. There is a job for everyone. However, as needs change, trying to keep up with the needs of the economy will always require workers to come into this State. They are workers from Great Britain and across the European Economic Area, but also an increasing number of workers from outside the European Economic Area. That is something we see across the European Union, but is absolutely particular to Ireland. The Senator knows my bona fides when it comes to protecting workers' rights. We have a good and productive conversation, and will have many more. There are a number of sectors where I have been absolutely horrified by the reports presented to me by the Migrant Rights Council of Ireland, as well as a number of trade unions like Mandate and Unite. They are appalling and there is no space for it. Going forward I want to see the increased funding I gave to the Workplace Relations Commission in last year's budget put towards extra inspectors who will spend more time on the ground in businesses, making sure they protect those who have come here and trusted the State to protect their livelihoods. They have taken a huge leap, come great distances and left their families behind. They have come for a fair day's pay for a fair day's work and for the treatment they deserve. The better we treat our workers the more our economy will grow.

Senator Gavan's point on collective bargaining is in some ways parallel to the debate we are having, but I want to provide an update. The high-level working group on collective bargaining met again last week. We had a LEEF meeting on Monday, where there was a discussion between the social partners - both employers and employees groups. I have given my commitment that I want to see this progress. I want to see the high-level working group meeting every fortnight until we have a clear plan in place to allow us to transpose the necessary legislation for the directive to be enacted. I agree with the Senator. Our coverage when it comes to collective bargaining is shameful compared with the rest of the European Union. I say that as a pro-business, centre-right politician. I say that because when you have a robust set of rules on collective bargaining and are attracting inward investment you can make the case that this provides certainty, a motivated workforce and a peaceful industrial relations set-up that allows further investment from those businesses outside Ireland and potentially outside of the European Union, including north America. Collective bargaining should not be feared by the business community, especially those not familiar with the European system. It should be embraced.