Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 203: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps a foreign national who is on a one year working visa can take if they lose their job; if they are entitled to apply for new employment up until their visa expires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1821/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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If the foreign national is the holder of an employment permit, then in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006 all employment permits are employer and location specific. Accordingly, if an employment permit holder wishes to change employer then a new application will have to be made. However, under the Act a new application for an employment permit cannot be considered, except in exceptional circumstances, until a period of 12 months has elapsed since the foreign national concerned first commenced employment in the State. In the event that the foreign national is the holder of a Working Holiday Authorisation then they are free to seek other employment until their visa expires.