Dáil debates

Wednesday, 28 November 2007

1:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on making fees paid by employers seeking work permits to be refundable in full or in part if an employee changes job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31337/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Employment Permits Act 2006, the fee for an employment permit may be refunded if an application has been refused or withdrawn prior to the issuing of the permit. The fee is not normally refunded, however, after the permit has been issued. Employment permits are processed in accordance with the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 and SI Nos. 682 and 683 of 2006, which clearly and comprehensively set out in legislation the procedures relating to applications for permits, the granting or refusal of permits and the fees which apply to permits. Under the 2006 Act, a new permit is not normally considered unless a period of 12 months has elapsed since the foreign national first commenced employment in the State. This retention measure was included to allay the fears of employers who have spent time and money on trying to source suitable employees. However, permits may be issued within 12 months if there appears to have been abuse of an employee or there are other exceptional circumstances.

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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It is fair to say that work permits are not cheap. I am not sure what the exact cost of a work permit is — I think it is approximately €1,000.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It costs €1,000 for two years.

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Given that approximately €10 million accrued to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment last year in respect of fees for work permits, it seems reasonable that a portion of the fee should be refunded if the employment terminates within six months, for any reason. I ask the Minister to consider that suggestion.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The danger with that proposal is that our approach is vacancy-driven. When an employment vacancy occurs, that can be the catalyst for an application by an employer or an employee for a work permit. We do not want a free-for-all to develop, whereby somebody utilises a vacancy to get a work permit and then goes somewhere else within two months. That would bring the entire system into disarray. There are no problems in the vast majority of cases in which employers bring people to Ireland, look after them well and retain them as part of their good human resources policy. I will keep this issue under review. If Deputy Varadkar is aware of particular cases, and is able to give the employer's side of the story, I will listen to him. We should be careful not to undermine the entire edifice we have constructed in this respect.