Written answers

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Work Permits

5:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the work permit rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40890/09]

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the green card rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40892/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 39 together.

Earlier this year my Department completed a review of employment permit arrangements, the purpose of which was to ensure that such arrangements continued to be appropriate to the needs of our changing labour market. Following the outcome of consultations with the Social Partners and other interest groups, a number of changes were implemented for non-EEA nationals applying to enter the Irish labour market under the Work Permit and Green Card and schemes from 1 June 2009.

In recognition of the fact that skills and labour shortages no longer exist in various sectors of employment, a number of occupations were added to the list of those ineligible for work permits, and a significant number of job categories have been removed from the Green Card eligible list where the salary payable for the job is in the range €30,000-€59,999 per annum.

It has been, and continues to be, Government policy to require that employers make a meaningful effort to give preference to Irish and EEA nationals in filling job vacancies. The labour market needs test now requires advertisement of the job vacancy for eight weeks with FÁS/EURES plus six days advertising in the national media, so as to allow the maximum opportunity for the position to be filled from within the Irish labour market and wider EEA. Other changes were introduced for non-EEA nationals entering the labour market from 1 June including revised provisions for the renewal of permits and the requirement for spouses and dependants of principal work permit holders to apply for permits in their own right subject to the standard eligibility criteria and fees for work permits.

However, such changes to our system were not unmindful of the impact on immigrant workers here, nor of the views of groups representing their interests. Government recognises the fact that permit holders who have been living in Ireland for several years have made a real contribution to the economy, and that they too are potentially impacted by adverse labour market conditions, including redundancy situations. Therefore, subject to satisfactory presentation of documents to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, foreign nationals who have held a permit for more than five years and have been working lawfully during that time are now entitled to an immigration permission that enables them to reside in Ireland and to work without the need for an employment permit. Foreign nationals working on a permit prior to 1 June 2009 and who have held a permit for less than five years may remain, for a six month period following redundancy, in order to seek work in an ineligible as well as an eligible category. The labour market needs test has also been removed for current and future work permit holders who have been made redundant.

My Department will continue to keep employment permit arrangements under review to ensure they remain suitable and relevant to current labour market conditions. As before, the views of relevant stakeholders and interest groups will be taken into account in this ongoing review process.

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