Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if persons in Ireland under work permits are entitled to have their spouses resident here with them for the duration of their work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25633/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Unlike many other jurisdictions, in Ireland, there is a clear division between economic migration and general immigration policies and thus an applicant for an employment permit undergoes a separate application process with Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, for immigration permission and visas to work in the State, including immigration permission for family members.    

There are nine different types of employment permits to facilitate different employment scenarios.  The employment permit type specifically designed to address key skills shortages is the Critical Skills Employment Permit while the General Employment Permit is the primary permit used by the State to attract non-EEA nationals in occupations of a more general nature.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is Ireland’s premium employment permit and is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market in roles identified as being in critical short supply (on the critical skilled occupation list) with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence and employment in the State.  As a result, it attracts a number of additional benefits over the other permit types including a fast-track to long term residency after two years, immediate family reunification and broad access to the labour market of dependent/spouse/partners.

For the other employment permit types, family reunification can be applied for after one year and is a matter for the Department of Justice.