Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the possibility of a two-tier system of immigration, with wealthier employment visa holders awarded greater rights than poorer employment permit holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31629/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Economic migration policy is formulated within a context where the focus on meeting our skills needs is: first, on upskilling our resident workforce; second, on maximising the potential of EEA nationals to fill our skills deficits; and third, with a new green card and revised work permit system, to meet those skill needs which cannot otherwise be addressed.

I announced my proposals for employment permits policy on 12 October 2005. The new employment permits system will have three pillars: pillar one is the establishment for the first time in Ireland of a green card for occupations where there are skills shortages, which will be for a restricted list of occupations in the annual salary range from €30,000 to €60,000 and for a more extensive list of occupations in the annual salary range above €60,000; pillar two is a re-established intra-company transfer scheme for temporary trans-national management transfers, and pillar three is a work permit scheme for a very restricted list of occupations up to €30,000. These new arrangements will be implemented next year.

The Employment Permits Bill 2005, which is being considered by the Dáil, will put in place a statutory framework to allow the implementation of an active, managed economic migration policy. These proposals are fair and reasonable and will support our economic development into the future.