Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline the requirements for Romanian nationals to obtain a work permit here; if there are any exemptions; if there are plans to remove this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6980/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Romanian Nationals are eligible to apply for all Employment Permits based on the eligibility criteria effective on 1 January 2007. Applications are considered under the Employment Permits Act 2006. Full details on the employment permit requirements for Romanian nationals, including exemptions, can be found on my Department's website at http://www.djei.ie/labour/workpermits/bulgariaromania.htm. The Treaties that govern Romanian accession to the EU provide for a 7-year transition period before their nationals have full access to the labour markets of Member States. This transition period ends on 1 January 2014. The Treaties also require that from 1 January 2012, Member States grant full access to their labour markets unless they are confronted with a serious disturbance in their labour market or the threat thereof. A comprehensive analysis of the labour market situation concluded that the Irish labour market was experiencing a serious labour market disturbance such that it could be exacerbated by an immediate opening of the market to full access. Accordingly, the Government announced on 16 December 2011 that the current restrictions on access to the Irish labour market by Romanian nationals are to continue in place until the end of 2013.