Bitfield permissions in plugin

[toonysnn]

I cannot seem to get a plugin to work properly with bitfield permissions, how can I do this? My PHP file (irc.php) seems to run just fine with the same code.
Here's my plugin:

PHP Code:

$ezirc_title = $vbulletin->options[ezirc_title];
if($vbulletin->options[ed_irc] == 1) {

if(($permissions['ezircpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp['ezircpermissions']['canviewirc']))  { 
if($vbulletin->options[ezirc_navbar_on] == 1) {
$template_hook[navbar_buttons_right] .= "
<td class=\"vbmenu_control\"><a href=\"./irc.php\">".$ezirc_title."</a></td>";
}
$ezirc_ui = $vbulletin->userinfo;
$ezirc[hostname] = $vbulletin->options[ezirc_server];
$ezirc[channels] = $vbulletin->options[ezirc_channel];
$ezirc[quitmsg] = $vbulletin->options[ezirc_quitmsg];
$ezirc_global = <<<EOF
<div align="center">
<applet codebase="./irc/" code="IRCApplet.class" archive="irc.jar,pixx.jar" width=640 height=400>
<param name="CABINETS" value="irc.cab,securedirc.cab,pixx.cab">
<param name="nick" value="$ezirc_ui[username]">
<param name="alternatenick" value="$ezirc_ui[username]???">
<param name="quitmessage" value="$ezirc[quitmsg]">
<param name="name" value="Live Chat">
<param name="host" value="$ezirc[hostname]">
<param name="useidentserver" value="true">
<param name="gui" value="pixx">
<param name="command1" value="join $ezirc[channels]">
</applet>
</div>
EOF;

}
}
}