Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under the directive, applicants will have access to the labour market nine months from the date upon which the application was lodged. If a first instance decision has not been taken within that period of nine months and if no delay can be attributed to the applicant, that person will be entitled to avail of the framework of the directive and apply for a job. Obviously, this is subject to the successful conclusion of the ongoing review with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and my own Department in respect of the categories of eligibility for work.