Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his position in relation to the employment rights of the spouses of migrant workers who have been granted family reunification visas on the condition that the spouse does not work is as stated in his predecessor's reply to Question No. 75 of 17 June 2004, or as stated in the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform's reply to Question No. 183 of 9 December 2004. [34147/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The position is, as stated in the earlier reply, that the Tánaiste announced in February 2004 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 at www.entemp.ie.

The spouses of other persons who do not qualify under the spousal scheme are eligible to seek employment and have that employer apply for a work permit in the same way as for all non-EEA workers. However, where the immigration authorities have granted a spouse visa to permit family reunification my Department is required to take cognisance of any conditions attached to the visa by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Any changes to a persons visa status in the State is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.