Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the interim arrangement regarding access to the labour market of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens will come to an end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18704/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Treaties of Accession between the EU and Romania and Bulgaria, Phase 1 of the Transitional Arrangements comes to an end on 31 December, 2008. During this Phase, Member States are permitted to continue to require nationals of both countries to hold employment permits in order to access the labour market. As I announced on 24 October last, the Government availed of this option, requiring such nationals to apply for Employment Permits but giving them preference over nationals of non-European Economic Area countries, in accordance with our EU Community Preference obligations. The Government will review this situation before the end of 2008 and will then notify the EU Commission as obliged under the Treaties of Accession as to whether or not we intend to continue the restrictions for a further three years. This Phase 2 runs from the start of 2009 to the end of 2011 and is followed in turn under the Treaties by a final Phase 3 covering the period 2012 to 2013, whereby in principle transitional measures restricting access should cease to be applied but a Member State, in the case of a serious disturbance to its labour market or a threat thereof, may continue to apply restrictions for a further two years.