Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expedite the work permit application process for the haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6914/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The regime is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term.

The occupations lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review and take account of research undertaken by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SOLAS) and the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department.

In support of supply chains and cognisant of the ongoing issues facing retail, transport and logistic operators, exacerbated by COVID-19 and Brexit, I announced on 27 October 2021, that any HGV drivers recruited from outside the EEA will be eligible for an employment permit without the limitation of a quota. The quota had been in existence since 2017 and was extended previously in 2019.

Permits for HGV drivers may be granted to the holders of valid mutually recognised CE/C1E licences. At present four countries are covered by mutual recognition agreements for CE/C1E licences – South Africa, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

Applications for employment permits are processed in date order. Applicants can keep track of Employment Permit applications current processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates.