Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In terms of the skill shortages, my Department has reviewed economic migration policies to ensure they are fully supportive of Ireland's emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages. The report of the review, which was published in September 2018, confirms that the current employment system is robust and has served the country well in recent years. An action plan has been formulated to drive the recommendations of the review. I was pleased to be able to remove particular sectors from the ineligible list, including the construction sector. I have issued a number of work permits to enable the construction sector to address critical skills shortages in terms of quantity surveyors, engineers and so on, from outside of the EU, which the sector has welcomed.

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