Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if workers from non-EU countries are eligible for new work permits; if so, the trades and skills which are eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22326/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, work permits are only considered in respect of highly skilled and highly paid positions, where the employer has made meaningful attempts to find EEA nationals first. There is currently a list of ineligible occupations on my Department's website www.entemp.ie. An employer may check this list to determine whether the position he wishes to fill is eligible or not.