Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the work permit system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7747/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Union. For strategic skills or labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors, Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand. The various schemes that give effect to such policies — green cards, work permits, spousal and dependant work permits and permits for intra-company transferees — were introduced under the Employment Permits Act 2006 and came into effect on 1 February 2007.

The green card scheme replaced the previous work visa or work authorisation scheme and is available for occupations where there are strategically important high-level skills shortages. A green card can be issued for an extensive list of occupations with annual salaries of €60,000 and above, and for a specified list of high skilled occupations with salaries between €30,000 and €60,000. No labour market test is required for the green card applications. Green cards are issued for two years initially and will normally lead to the granting of permanent or long-term residence after that.

The work permit scheme is mainly for non-green card occupations in the €30,000 to €60,000 annual salary range. A work permit may be granted only in exceptional circumstances for occupations with salaries below €30,000. There are also a number of categories of employment for which work permits will not to be considered, as vacancies for such positions can be filled from within the EEA. Work permits are the subject of a labour market needs test and are granted initially for a period of two years, and then for a further period of up to three years.

Currently employment permit holders constitute approximately 1.5% of the total labour force. Given that our current employment permit arrangements were designed to be vacancy-driven, the numbers of permit applications and consequent numbers of permits issued over the last six months have been showing a consistent downward trend. Our employment permit arrangements are being reviewed to ensure their ongoing relevance to the needs of the Irish labour market.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Why have the work permit and green card schemes not been reviewed since 2006? Although we have had a dramatic shift in economic circumstances we are only now reviewing the conditions for those schemes. While I accept that the number of work permits issued over the last seven months has decreased — a figure of 1,100 is significantly down on the previous period — the issue is not only the figures but of perception. The Government needs to be seen to be on top of the issue. Is there any plan to introduce a labour market test for the green card? Have any discussions taken place with the Minister of State with responsibility for integration policy, Deputy Conor Lenihan?

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The schemes are reviewed every six months. There is a constant change in the context of the labour market and that change is reflected in the review.

The statistics, both here and across Europe, indicate that the numbers coming in to seek employment are reducing quite rapidly. There is a need for us to adjust accordingly and as that change takes place, depending on the area about which we speak, the adjustment is made in terms of policy and what we are doing. Currently, a review is being undertaken.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Is it the case that the fees established for employment permits have not been reviewed since January 2007? While employment permit holders make up 1.5% of the labour force, they make up 3% on the live register, or 10,000 people, resulting in a loss to the economy on an annual basis of approximately €200 million. Would it not make sense to waive the fee for migrants who are resident here and who are in receipt of employment permits as this would remove the barrier for such migrants who are legally entitled to PRSI-based social welfare payments and give them the opportunity to take up a job for the period up to the expiry of their work permits? At present, they do not have the opportunity to avail of that because employers will not pay the fees and in the vast majority of cases the migrants do not have the resources to pay those fees.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The fees issue is under review and out for consultation at present. The comments made by the Deputy can be taken into consideration in the context of that review.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Why has the Minister of State not had this reviewed until now? He is reviewing it every six months. Why was action not taken in that regard? It is a barrier to taking people off the live register and it does not make sense.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Naughten has just answered his own question. It is being reviewed and he just acknowledged it is being reviewed.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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When will the review be completed?

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Naughten asked one question and answered it. He answered his own question——

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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When will it be completed?

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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——and acknowledged that, in fact, it is being reviewed.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Minister of State to conclude.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The fees have not been reviewed since January 2007.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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On the fees, consultation is taking place and comments made by Deputy Naughten can be taken into consideration in terms of that consultation.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Ceist Uimh. 50 in ainm an Teachta Damien English.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is always a report waiting for a decision.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Better that than waffling from the Deputy's side of the House.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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We note what the Deputy had to say. It is a different view from that which has been expressed by others but all of this must be considered in the context of bringing the matter to finality in a month's time.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I called Question No. 50.