Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The operation of all immigration stamp permissions, including the Stamp 1G and the conditions applying to the Third Level Graduate Programme, are the policy responsibility of the Department of Justice. A Stamp 1G is granted for 12 months only, except for those individuals who have completed a master’s degree programme, when a further 12 months can be provided subject to conditions. If an individual wishes to continue working after the expiry of a Stamp 1G permission they may seek a job which requires the issuance of an employment permit. In the case of a General Employment Permit application it is a requirement of the prospective employer to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test. The requirements in relation to the Labour Market Needs Test are set out in employment permit regulations and as such must be fully adhered to as the current legislation provides no discretion where there is a failure to carry it out correctly. Information concerning the Labour Market Means test is set out clearly on the Department’s website Labour Market Needs Test - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie)The Government’s policy is that employment opportunities should, in the first instance, be offered to suitably skilled Irish and other EEA nationals and should only be offered to non-EEA nationals where no suitable candidate emerges from within the EEA to fill the vacancy. This policy fulfils our obligations under the Community Preference principles of membership of the EU.