Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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657. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if persons from Pakistan are entitled to work here; if so, the criteria for same; the way in which they should apply for authorisation to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7242/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The employment of all non-EEA nationals in the State is governed by the Employment Permits Acts 2003 – 2014.  Under this legislation in order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality which allows them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an Employment Permit.

The Irish State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the European Union and other EEA states. However, where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA, an employment permit may be sought in respect of a non-EEA national who possess those skills.  All applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006, as amended and are dependent on a job offer from an Irish registered Employer.  It should be noted that the State's employment permit system is ordered by the use of lists which determine which employments are highly demanded and which are ineligible for consideration for employment permits at a point in time and these lists are reviewed on an bi-annual basis.

Full information on the current eligibility criteria in relation to employment permits can be found on the Department’s website at .

If any non-EEA national is successful in securing a job offer from an employer in Ireland which falls within those employments eligible for an employment permit they may make an appropriate application.