Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: 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. [4872/10]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the issuing of work permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4871/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 159 together.

In the first half of 2009 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 schemes from 1 June 2009, including provision for those employment permit holders who are made redundant. The arrangements included:

· Firstly, the refusal of almost all Work Permits applications where the applicant foreign national is currently outside the State,

· secondly, the removal of some categories from the Green Card list – these included construction and engineering categories,

· thirdly, a 50% increase in fees at renewal stage for new first time employment permit applications from outside the EEA, and

· fourthly, a strengthening of the Labour Market Needs Test for new first time Work Permit applications.

Currently employment permit holders constitute approximately 1.2% of the total labour force. The numbers of permit applications and consequent numbers of total employment permits issued, including both new and renewal permits, over the last year have been showing a consistent downward trend from 13,500 in 2008 to 7,900 in 2009.

Within this, new permits issued have also fallen from 8,500 in 2008 to 4,000 in 2009. Most new permits issued in 2009 were for non-EEA nationals already working in the State who wished to change jobs.

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.