Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the position regarding an employment permit appeal (details supplied).. [34366/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits - green cards permits, work permits, spousal/dependant permits and intra-company transfer permits. All applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006.

I wish to advise the Deputy that this application was refused on 2 September 2010 on the grounds that it is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled, highly paid positions or, in respect of non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits or, where there is an officially recognized scarcity of workers of a particular type or qualification.

Furthermore, a vacancy in which a work permit is being applied for must be advertised for a period of six days in both local and national newspapers. It is also the case that the salary scale referred to in the application does not correspond with the salary as advertised with FÁS. An appeal in respect of this decision was received in the employment permits section on 15 September 2010. All appeals are dealt with in date of receipt order and there is currently a waiting period of four-six weeks because of the number of appeals being processed with limited staff resources.