Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the lack of qualified brewers in the jobs market with specialised skills in areas such as barrel beers and so on; if she will accept visa applications for such specialists, subject to all other criteria being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21792/16]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with our EU obligations, employment permits policy is calibrated to encourage the meeting of general labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the EU and other European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Ireland's labour market is part of a much greater EEA labour market which affords a considerable supply of skilled workers. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA, an employment permit may be sought to hire a non-EEA national.

The Employment Permit Act 2006 as amended provides the flexibility to deal with changing labour market, work patterns and economic development needs which often require rapid response. The Regulations, as provided for in the Act, are reviewed and adapted on a biannual basis to reflect the exigencies of a changing enterprise environment. They, inter alia, stipulate two types of occupation for the purposes of the employment permits system:

- The Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations Lists (HSEOL) sets out the lists of eligible occupations deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland’s economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled, and are in significant shortage of supply in our labour market. This list is an integral part of the Critical Skills Employment Permit which is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in the State.

- The Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL) includes those occupations for which there is a clear surplus of adequately skilled Irish and EEA nationals in the wider labour force.

My Department has devised a process of reviewing and updating the HSEOL and ICEL for employment permits bi-annually. This review is predicated on a formalised and evidence-based process. Such a process involves obtaining and considering advice from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU - SOLAS). The process also includes a public consultation element and input from Government Departments, Agencies, and industry is welcomed.

The EGFSN’s Annual Skills Bulletin contributes principally to my Department’s ongoing monitoring of the labour market. This Bulletin draws on data on employment, vacancies, job announcements and immigration and other qualitative information held in the National Skills Database (in SOLAS), to identify imbalances in the Irish labour market at occupational level.

Brewers who have a food science qualification are on the HSEOL (SOC 2129 Material scientists) and thus are eligible for an employment permit, including a Critical Skills Employment Permit. All other classes of brewers are in the ICEL and thus are not eligible for an employment permit. The inclusion of elementary level brewers on the ICEL was informed by the formalised evidence-based process I have described above.

The next review of the lists is due to commence in the Autumn and there will be an opportunity for interested parties to make representations on the composition of the lists.