Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 15: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of Romanian nationals living here; and if Romanian nationals may be fully entitled to work in this State without a work permit. [14159/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006, the Irish Government decided that, following their accession to the EU, nationals of Romania and Bulgaria would still have to apply for work permits in order to work in Ireland. Following a review of the situation in 2008, Government decided to maintain this requirement. The considerable challenges now posed as a result of the downturn in the global economic environment and its direct impact on the labour market have been factors influencing this decision.

While nationals of Romania have to apply for work permits in order to work in Ireland, they are given preferential access to our labour market, ahead of non-EEA nationals. In addition, Romanians who have been in the State on a valid employment permit for an uninterrupted period of 12 months or longer are not required to renew their employment permit in order to remain in the workplace.