John Bruton (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government's policy in regard to the grant of work permits to persons already married to work permit holders, with particular reference to the constitutional provisions requiring the State to support marriage. [18189/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced new arrangements designed to give greater ease of access to employment for the spouses of certain skilled non-EEA nationals working in the State and decided to waive the fees normally payable. Detailed guidelines on how to apply for work permits as well as the eligibility criteria and procedures relating to the new spouses scheme are available on my Department's website, www.entemp.ie. The spouses of persons in respect of whom work permits have been issued are eligible to seek employment and have their employers apply for a work permit in the same way as for all non-EEA workers. Where the immigration authorities have granted a spouse visa to permit family reunification, such visas are granted on the condition that the spouse does not work. In such cases, my Department is precluded from considering work permit applications in respect of that spouse.