Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice has responsibility for the granting of immigration permissions that may provide for entry and work rights in the State for non EEA nationals and their spouses and partners where eligible to apply. Spouses and partners of Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders do not currently receive automatic work rights from that Department, however they are free to apply for a separate employment permit in their own right.

At present, the Department of Justice is undertaking a review of the broader family reunification policy, including work rights of spouses and my Department has been engaging with the Department in support of this review and the extending of work rights to eligible spouses and partners of ICT permit holders.

The Department of Justice policy requires that the sponsor demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. The policy sets out the rationale for applying resource requirements as part of the overall assessment of whether to approve an application for family reunification and the conditions attaching to permissions issued to family members.

I intend to write to the Minister of Justice seeking an update on the progress of this review shortly.