Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to secure long-term employment for immigrants who are employed in the health service in areas which are experiencing long-term staffing shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23956/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to human resource management issues within the Health Service Executive which, under the Health Act 2004, is a matter in the first instance for the Executive. Subject to overall parameters set by Government, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public.

Legislation regarding Employment Permits/ Green Cards is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Residency is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In the case of non-EEA nationals, I am advised by the Health Service Executive that their tenure, in the main, is of a fixed term nature arising from the conditions attached to the employment permit of which they are in receipt. I am also advised by the Executive that all immigrants currently employed in the health service enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as their fellow colleagues who are similarly employed.

The HSE through the National Projects Office in Manorhamilton has recruited professional staff from overseas to areas in which they are experiencing long term staffing shortages. These mainly comprise Specialist Nurses, Midwifes, Specialist Senior Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists. In the main, they are initially offered contracts of two years duration. Again this is due to the conditions attached to the Green Card of which they are in receipt. The Green Card Permit is an employment permit issued to the employee and allows his or her employment in the State by the named employer in the occupation specified on the permit. It is issued in areas of designated skill shortage (and for salaries greater than €60,000 and not contrary to the public interest) for an initial period of two years and thereafter normally can be renewed indefinitely. It allows the employee to apply for immediate family re-unification and will normally allow a pathway to permanent residency after two years.

Within the period of their employment these HSE personnel are welcome and entitled to apply for permanent positions within the HSE through the normal channels. These candidates, like all applicants, must meet the selection criteria laid down by the HSE in the particular recruitment competition; the conditions attached to their work permit or visa renewal is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and is separate from the recruitment process.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she is taking to ensure a level of competency in the English language of front line staff employed in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23957/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy's question relates to human resource management issues within the Health Service Executive which, under the Health Act 2004, is a matter in the first instance for the Executive. I am advised by the Executive that all aspects of its recruitment and selection processes are based on the principle of assessing the skills, qualities and attributes of applicants against those which have been determined as required for effective performance of the job. Selection is based on merit and successful candidates demonstrate their suitability for appointment to the post according to predetermined job-related selection criteria which are consistently applied throughout the recruitment process.

All front-line staff, regardless of country of origin, recruited by the HSE must demonstrate at interview and in their written application a number of core competencies, one of which is communication which covers written, spoken and aural language. In the case of nurses and midwifes from outside the EU, an English language competency must be demonstrated in the form the ILETs and TOEFL examinations, which are internationally recognised comprehensive English language tests. This is a core part of their professional registration/licence to practice from An Bord Altranais (ABA). This does not apply to Nurses and Midwifes from within the EU.