Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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334. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the list of highly skilled and ineligible categories that applies to work permit applicants for asylum seekers will be reviewed in view of the fact that the current list indirectly discriminates against women (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4221/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The State's general policy in relation to economic migration is to promote the sourcing of skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other non-EEA states.  Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the State and EEA, an employment permit may be sought by an employer to hire a non-EEA national.

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system which maximises the benefits of economic migration while minimising the risk of disrupting the labour market.  To this end it operates an occupation lists system which responds as demand grows or recedes:

- A highly skilled occupation list in which skills identified as being in critical short supply and are professional positions in medicine, ICT, sciences, finance and business.

- An ineligible occupation list with employments where there is evidence that there are more than enough Irish/EEA workers to fill such vacancies.

- All other jobs in the labour market, where an employer cannot find a worker, may be eligible for an employment permit subject to a labour market needs test. 

Applications for employment permits are made on the basis of job offers and as such, the system is vacancy driven.  No weighting or preference applies to the non-EEA national who applies to take up the job offer – the criteria which the applicant must meet relate to skills rather than nationality, gender, age or any other personal characteristic.  

As the State approaches full employment, I have asked my officials to undertake a review of the economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system, to ensure it is fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors. 

From 9 February 2018, when section 16(3)(b) International Protection Act 2015 is struck down by the Supreme Court, until the date of entry into force of the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive, any eligible international protection applicants will be able to access the employment permit system on the same basis as other non-EEA nationals.