Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will outline any visa programmes available to senior executives coming to work in foreign owned companies based here, including uptake numbers of these programmes in 2011 and 2012. [56939/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Economic Area (EEA). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic skills and labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare, information technology and financial services.

A range of employment permits initiatives have been put in place to address this skills issue and to assist foreign companies based in Ireland. The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit Scheme in particular, facilitates the transfer of senior management, key personnel or trainees who are foreign nationals from an overseas branch of a multinational corporation to its Irish branch. Only 5% of the workforce may have Intra-company Transfer Permits, however, for start-ups this may be waived on a case by case basis for an initial period. No labour market needs test is required prior to making an application for an Intra-Company Transfer permit.

The Green Card Employment Permit Scheme is used by Ireland to meet labour market requirements where skills shortages have been identified by reference to analyses undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It is designed to attract highly skilled and highly paid individuals into the labour market with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in the State. The employee may apply for immediate family re-unification and an application for long-term residence may be made after two years. No labour market needs test (e.g. newspaper and FÁS/EURES advertising) is required prior to making an application. Their Spouses are also eligible to apply for permits under our Spousal/Dependant Employment Permit Scheme.

The Work Permits Employment Permit Scheme provides for a further channel for employers and prospective employees to source and transfer skills.

When considering applications under any of these Schemes, cognisance is given to the strategic imperative of the missions of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, with priority being afforded to their clients. The numbers of permits issued under all of these Schemes is detailed in Appendix 1.

In addition to the above, my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality this year announced new Immigrant Investor and Start-up Entrepreneur Programmes.

The purpose of these Programmes is to allow non-EEA nationals, who commit to an approved investment in Ireland or with an innovative business idea for a High Potential Start-up, to enter the State with a view to establishing a permanent relationship with Ireland.

Further information on all of these Schemes and Programmes can be found on my Department’s website and that of the Department of Justice and Equality.

I hope to be in a position shortly to announce a range of improvements which will greatly enhance the employment permits regime to ensure company growth is not hampered by skills shortages. These improvements will include a streamlining of the documentary requirements, significant reductions in processing times and improved customer service and public information.

My Department is also currently preparing new legislation, the purpose of which will be to consolidate and streamline the Employment Permits Act 2003 and the Employment Permits Act 2006. The legislation will update provisions for the employment permits schemes in line with policy and economic developments since 2007; provide the flexibility to deal with changing labour market conditions and work patterns and our evolving economic development needs which often require a rapid response; provide for a robust employment permits regime with greater clarity for applicants; and cater for the accession of new Member States to the EU.

Appendix 1

Employment Permits issued by Permit Type