Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit.

The 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. The lists undergo periodic evidence-based review guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation and the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine who have policy responsibility for this sector.

Occupations in the farming sector that have been provided with further extensions to quotas of General Employment Permits in the past year include Dairy Farm Assistant (100 GEPs), Horticulture Operative (1000 GEPs), and Work Riders (100 GEPs). The quota for Dairy Farm Assistant has now expired with the last permits issued in early November.

The use of quotas ensures that in the longer-term, strategies are put in place to source labour supply from both the domestic and European labour markets and to invest in innovative technologies to automate the sector when possible.

In order to have an occupation considered for adding to or removing from the Occupations Lists, or for a quota to be created, recruitment difficulties should be demonstrated as due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Sectors are also required to engage structurally with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.

My Department has recently received a request from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an additional quota of General Employment Permits for the role of Dairy Farm Assistant. Final consideration is now being given to this matter and a decision is expected in due course.

My Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.