James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am speaking today to seek Seanad Éireann approval to opt in to a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council establishing an EU talent pool. Ireland has the right to decide whether to opt in to this measure under Protocol No. 21 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The three-month time period for an opt-in to the proposal expires tomorrow, 6 March. This proposal relates to the establishment of an EU talent pool, a web portal that will facilitate the matching of job vacancies of EU-based employers with the profiles of jobseekers from third countries. The proposal seeks to reduce barriers to international recruitment for EU employers and to promote legal pathways and opportunities for those jobseekers from third countries. Opting in to the EU talent pool regulation will support Ireland's efforts towards greater strategic alignment with the European Union on migration policy and help foster an ambitious and sustainable EU legal migration policy, attracting the talent we need to our labour markets. For example, the talent pool could potentially enable a skilled nurse from India to be matched with essential services in hospitals throughout Ireland. Along with other EU member states, Ireland faces demographic pressures with declining birth rates, aging populations and an ongoing decline in the working age population. Facilitating the recruitment of skilled workers will support us in addressing this demographic challenge and bolster our economy. Participation in the talent pool is voluntary and, by opting in, Ireland is not committing to such participation. This can be decided at a later date based on the merits and value for money of the talent pool once it is in operation. However, opting in at the outset would allow Ireland to vote on adoption of the measure and to fully participate in the negotiation and eventual implementation of the measure, if we decide to do so. The EU talent pool will enable employers to advertise vacancies to attract workers from third countries. Third-country jobseekers will be able to search for jobs that match their skills. Jobs may only be advertised on the EU talent pool if those roles cannot be filled from within the EEA. The EU talent pool includes an initial list of 42 occupations where there are shortages of skills within the EU, including specialist medical practitioners, software developers, chemical engineers, cooks, waiters and roofers. As outlined, the EU talent pool includes an initial list. This list of occupations will be regularly reviewed and Ireland will have the freedom to add or remove occupations based on our own labour market needs. If Ireland were to choose to use the talent pool, only occupations eligible for a critical skills or general employment permit would be able to be advertised on the platform, provided all other criteria, such as a labour market needs test, are met. The EU talent pool will primarily facilitate the offer of a job, which is an essential prerequisite in order to apply for an employment permit and immigration permission. All of the other criteria required for third-country nationals to access the Irish labour market would also need to be met, such as minimum salary thresholds and adherence to the 50:50 rule. This approach is additional to and will not supersede existing measures to reskill and upskill Irish and EU citizens. The European Commission has estimated that the talent pool initiative will have a positive impact on EU GDP, with up to €4.2 billion generated by additional wages with 20 member states participating until 2030. There is no legal or practical impediment to Ireland opting in to this proposal and no cost will be incurred unless Ireland decides to participate in the talent pool once it is operational in 2028. I commend to the House the proposal to exercise Ireland's opt-in to the measure. I thank all Senators for their consideration of this matter.