Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Senator said, the amendment calls for a report to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the labour market access available to spouses of employment permit holders, particularly looking to the gender impact, which is a very important issue to raise. This is especially the case for economic migrants working in vital roles in our health and social care sectors in particular.

As we discussed on Committee Stage, spousal access to the labour market and family reunification are the policy responsibility of the Department of Justice and, therefore, fall outside the scope of both my Department and this legislation. Nonetheless, ensuring employment permit holders can qualify for family reunification was a real driving force for the recent increases to the minimum salary thresholds for employment permits. Most roles across a broad spectrum of sectors now qualify for family reunification. I am actively working with my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, to ensure that healthcare assistants and home support workers achieve that level as soon as possible.

As I mentioned last week, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is also cognisant of the concerns raised today. She recently announced changes to the rules regarding access to the labour market by the spouses and partners of employment permit holders. The wider issue of family reunification waiting periods is currently the subject of an ongoing review by the Department of Justice. I understand that announcements will be made once that review is complete.

While I agree with the Senator on much of this, ultimately, it is not a matter within the policy responsibility of my Department. It therefore falls outside the scope of the Bill. I cannot accept the amendment.