Seanad debates

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Commencement Matters

Work Permits Eligibility

2:30 pm

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for coming to the House to address this Commencement matter. I am raising the issue of the need for chefs to be added to the critical skills employment permit list. The issue of the shortage of skilled labour in the hospitality sector, and of chefs in particular, has been deemed critical by the hospitality industry. The Restaurants Association of Ireland, RAI, estimates that more than 5,000 chefs will be required by 2018 to fill vacancies and to remedy the shortage of skilled labour in the hospitality sector in general.

While new apprenticeships have had some impact in alleviating the current situation, it is my understanding that they are not sufficient to meet current demand in the short to medium term. In fact, it is estimated that it will be three to four years before the new apprenticeship and mentoring initiatives which are coming on stream will have any impact at all on the current situation. The only short or medium-term solution to this crisis therefore is for the hospitality sector to partner with chef training colleges worldwide to attract qualified chefs to Ireland. The main obstacle to this, however, is the issue of obtaining work permits for student chefs and qualified chefs. As it stands, chefs are not on the list of occupations which are eligible for a permit on the list maintained by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, with the exception of executive chefs, head chefs, sous chefs and specialist chefs earning in excess of €30,000 per year. This, of course, rules out any hope of restaurant owners recruiting student chefs from abroad to get around the shortage of potential employees in this country.

Occupations such as senior health services and public health managers and directors are on the Department's critical skills employment permit list, yet it is my understanding that the HSE has a glut of these professionals already employed. Other professionals given special status at the moment include: accountants and tax consultants; environment health professionals; quality assurance and regulatory professionals; sales, marketing and related associate professionals; web design and development professionals, etc. The Department also has a list of those professions eligible for internship employment permits. This list mirrors the list for critical skills employment permits and chefs are not covered on this list either.

It is interesting to note that the Department last updated its work permit eligibility list on 3 April 2017. At that time the critical shortage of chefs was already well documented and publicised. I am aware that the RAI has met with Department officials on this issue approximately four times in the past 18 months, but I have been contacted by individuals in the industry, such as people running hotels and restaurants. In the past four years they have made a submission on the issue every six months.I understand the Department has informed them that it is not keen to offer two-year temporary visas for chefs at the moment. I would like to know whether the Minister will reconsider this position.

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response. I appreciate where she is coming from when she speaks about providing jobs for Irish citizens and people from the EU. As I mentioned at the outset, it is felt that the training initiatives will not bring enough people on stream to service the industry for another two or three years. For that reason, I am calling for an interim measure to be agreed that would allow people in the industry on wages below €30,000 to be employed from outside the EU, if possible. The Minister of State has said that this matter is under review. I would like to be kept up to date. I will be in touch with the Department in due course to see how that plays out. I have marked the necessity which I am hearing from different hoteliers with regard to the shortage. They are finding it difficult to get people to fill sous chef, executive chef, head chef and specialist chef positions. They need regular chefs as well. I am not an expert. Senators Lawless and Byrne would know more about the technicalities of the catering and chef area than I do.I hope the Department will see the necessity for some leniency in the context of those earning under €30,000.

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I note the Senator's comments and will ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Education, Deputy Fitzgerald, to keep her up to date.

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State.