Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 12, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:

“Report on workers’ rights

3. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas reviewing the terms, conditions and remuneration afforded to workers holding regular permits and seasonal permits broken down by sectoral employment.”

While we accept the need for a more robust system for personal permits, which is being established with this Bill, we must be mindful that the system does not facilitate addressing worrying trends emerging within certain industries. It is important to know that these permits are not going to be isolated to sectors that may be typically associated with seasonal permit use. In the consultancy and tech sector, companies like Accenture, Amazon, Google and Meta are making use of permits, while at the same time making permanent staff redundant. All of these companies announced significant reductions in staff numbers in the last year. In 2023, Accenture made 1,290 of its 6,500 staff redundant. The Irish Times reported that this was out of proportion to the 2.5% decrease in staff it announced for its total workforce worldwide. In 2024, Accenture applied for 78 permits, Amazon applied for 269, Google applied for 171 and Meta applied for 49. We received reports that staff from these companies who facilitated the training of permit workers were then later made redundant. The question that must be asked is whether staff working on less secure permits are replacing permanent staff living and working here. Are we giving these companies the capacity to abuse this permit system and create more precarious conditions for their staff? Are we undermining a critically important part of our tax base by making these permits available to these types of companies in this way? Amendment No. 6 speaks to the need for oversight of this type of application of the Bill so that we can ensure this is not the case.