Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

I have assisted my constituents in applying and reapplying for employment permits in recent months.

The process can sometimes be unnecessarily long, particularly in the case of employment permit appeals. At the moment appeals in respect of this permit take around five months via the Department, which is a very long time. The current system of people having to wait for their employment permit to be granted before they can apply for the visa is inefficient and causes unnecessary delays. It does not make sense for the process to be separated. It is very frustrating for people and employers who are waiting for answers. They are left in complete limbo. The current process should be streamlined to allow for faster decision-making. Has the Minister of State considered working with the embassies to ensure that both are granted at the same time to give people better clarity? As it stands, employers are unable to properly plan and accommodate employees.

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