Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the position regarding the uptake of employment opportunities in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8902/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 a non-EEA national must hold a valid employment permit issued by my Department or have other relevant permission from the Department of Justice and Law Reform to work in the State.

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.

The Employment Permits Section informs me that it has no record of a permit being applied for or issued in respect of the named individual.

However, I wish to advise the Deputy that it is current Government policy to issue new employment permits only in respect of: · highly skilled, highly paid positions or; · 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.

The Department of Justice and Law Reform determines the immigration status of persons within the State. This status will determine the bearers right to access the labour market with or without an employment permit. Further information and the conditions that apply to the obtaining of new employment permits can be found at my Department's website at www.deti.ie.

Question No. 82 withdrawn.