Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if, due to the current shortage of highly quality technological talent, he will review the current working visa permit system to help indigenous companies expand and develop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33577/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my response of 3rd July last appended below to Parliamentary Questions 490 & 479. In addition to my answer on that occasion I would point out that in many instances. 95% of all visa applications are approved and that the overall average rate of visa approval is 92%.

While I am not averse in principle to the establishment of an immigration regime specifically geared to the technology sector, it would have to be on the basis that there was concrete evidence of a particular skills deficit in the labour market that cannot be filled by Irish or EU citizens. That labour market assessment would ultimately be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. In this regard it should be borne in mind that the technology sector spans a broad range of skills with differing levels of supply and demand.

I would also envisage that applicants for any such programmes would be subject to a rigorous assessment of their qualifications and experience to ensure that their skill sets are appropriate for the sector in question. In any event, the existing visa application arrangements are entirely flexible and designed to cater for the widest possible range of applicants who may wish to come here as workers, visitors, professionals and so forth.