Sir, - I am directed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O'Donoghue TD, to respond to your leading article of June 20th headed "Immigration Policy". It appears that your editorial writer approached this subject from the mistaken premise that there are no arrangements in place to facilitate non-nationals who wish to come here to work. As it happens nothing could be further from the truth. I am to ask that you might publish this response in the interests of clarifying the issue for your readers.
Contrary to the impression conveyed in the editorial, there are in fact well established procedures in place to facilitate the entry of non-nationals to this country for the purpose of entering into employment. In the first instance, nationals from the European Economic Area, which includes nationals from the 15 EU Member States, exercise the rights of free movement of workers within the Union and are therefore entitled to come here to take up employment.
Secondly, many other non-nationals comply with the legal requirements for entering and working in the State (including obtaining work permits from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). For example, in the past three years almost 12,500 work permits were issued to non-EU nationals.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform facilitates the entry of such persons to the State by the application of the laws and regulations in force. Moreover, of course any persons recognised as being in need of the protection of the State i.e. those granted refugee status, are also entitled to enter the workforce. - Yours, etc., Noel Waters,
Press and Information Officer, Office of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.