Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s employment permits system 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 but this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either highly sought after or are ineligible for an employment permit where it is evidenced that there is sufficient availability of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market.

In order to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo regular, evidence-based review guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation, the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments, in this case the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Account is also taken of upskilling and training initiatives and other known contextual factors, such as the ending of the pandemic unemployment payment schemes and the Ukrainian humanitarian Crisis, and their impact on the labour market.

Previous reviews of the occupations lists considered submissions from the sector seeking a change in status for a number of roles in the forestry and felling industry. Based on the information provided it was recognised that while these roles are specialist to the sector, some roles appear to be already eligible for an employment permit, with the exception of roles of a general skill level which are currently ineligible.

Following engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the most recent review recommended no change be made at the time and that bilateral engagement with the sector be undertaken in the upcoming review process to gain a better understanding of the labour and skills needs of the sector.

Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.

My Department continues to review the employment permits system in light of changing labour market circumstances. When the next Review of the Occupational Lists commences, submissions will be invited from sector representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on the Department’s website throughout the consultation period .