Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of an application for a work permit for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21467/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Permit Section has confirmed that an application for a work permit in respect of the above individual was refused in August, 2005 in line with my Department's policy to only consider work permit applications for highly skilled and highly paid positions which are not possible to fill from within the EEA and on the grounds that the company had been dissolved.

The employer was notified of this decision in writing and of the right of appeal. An appeal was received from the employer in November 2005. The employer was contacted in relation to this appeal requesting further information. To date the employer has not submitted a response to this request, accordingly the file has been closed.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in relation to a work permit application for a person (details supplied), account was taken by his Department of the fact that, despite exhaustive efforts including repeated and prolonged advertising and assistance from FÁS, it has proved impossible to recruit a suitably qualified Irish, EEA national or non-EEA national already legally resident here for the position in question; if, in these circumstances, he will review this work permit application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21369/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Permit Section has confirmed that an application for a work permit in respect of the above individual was refused on 23 May, 2006 in line with my Department's policy to only consider work permit applications for highly skilled and highly paid positions which are not possible to fill from within the EEA.

The employer was notified of this decision in writing and of the right of appeal. To date no such appeal has been received by the Work Permit Section. If the employer lodges an appeal by 20th June, I will arrange to have the case reviewed.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was refused work permits for persons in view of the fact that it has not been possible to source a person with the skills required in Ireland or the EU. [21514/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Permit Section of my Department has informed me that applications for work permits in respect of the above individuals were refused on 8 March 2006. New work permit applications are only being considered for skilled positions where it is not possible to recruit suitable persons from within the EEA.

In ethnic restaurants where there is significant investment, significant employment of EEA nationals and where a business case can be made for highly skilled and qualified non-EEA staff, my Department will consider such applications on a case by case basis. However in this instance my Department is of the view that the applications did not meet these criteria. The employer was notified of this decision in writing and of the right of appeal.

The employer submitted an appeal on 11 April 2006. The Work Permit Section upheld the decision to refuse on 10 May 2006. There has been no further correspondence from the employer on the issue.