David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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183. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is issuing work permits for non-EEA residents who resided in the State since 2019 or earlier; if this is the case for non-EEA residents who entered the State from 2020 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37365/21]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is accepting work permit applications from employers for non-EEA residents who have been in the State since 2019 or earlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37366/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market, expanding and contracting in tandem with its inherent fluctuations.

The State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of the State and other 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.

In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice which allows them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an Employment Permit. All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the application, grant and refusal of an employment permit.

It should be noted that the State's vacancy led employment permit system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists. These lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review, taking account of labour market research, a public consultation and contextual issues such as Brexit and Covid 19. Applications are dependent on a job offer from an Irish registered Employer for an eligible occupation.

All Employment Permit applications are checked for immigration status to determine if an individual has the relevant permission from the Minister for Justice to reside & work in the State.

If the applicant is residing in the State under a valid immigration permission allowing them to access the labour market and they have a valid job offer, an Employment Permit application may be granted provided they meet all the requirements under the type of permit applied for.