Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I thank Senator Noone for raising this issue in the House. Ireland's over-arching labour market policy is to support the sourcing of skills and labour needs from within the workforce of Ireland and the European Economic Area, EEA. The employment permits system offers an interim solution for employers when specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA. The system is ordered by the use of lists which determine which occupations are in high demand and which are ineligible for consideration for employment permits. Changes to the lists are made on the basis of research undertaken by the expert group on future skills needs in tandem with a consultation process as part of a package of measures to meet these skills needs. With the exception of executive chefs, head chefs, sous chefs and specialist chefs who specialise in non-EEA cuisine, chefs are on the ineligible list for employment permits at present. I introduced these rules during my term as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The provision of employment permits to chefs in the exceptional categories I have mentioned supports Ireland as an attractive destination for tourists who enjoy a wide range of cuisines.

In 2015, a study of the future skills needs of the hospitality sector conducted by the expert group on future skills needs indicated that the demand for skills was increasing in line with the economic recovery. It made a series of recommendations to avoid skills shortfalls as the sector grows. Consequently, a hospitality skills oversight group was established in 2015 to drive and co-ordinate action. The group comprises representatives of private and public stakeholders, including the Restaurant Association of Ireland. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is aware that work is under way to increase the supply of chefs through training initiatives such as the development of a new commis chef apprenticeship and a chef de partie apprenticeship. While the emphasis is on developing skills in the Irish labour market, the role migration can play is being kept under review. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is responsible for ensuring the employment rights of people in the labour market are protected. Critically, therefore, any potential opening up of the regime would require measures to be put in place to mitigate any potential risk of abuse of non-EEA employees. The use of an indicator of compliance with employment standards is being considered by the Department in collaboration with Solas and Fáilte Ireland.