Written answers
Tuesday, 5 March 2024
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Work Permits
Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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249. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when fishers will be removed from the list of unapproved occupations for the general employment permit, thus permitting fishing vessel owners to legally recruit non-EEA fishers for the first time since late 2022, when the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers was abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10201/24]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In October 2022, the Government approved the publication of the Review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet. The Review Group recommended that the employment of non-EEA crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet be provided for though Employment Permits issued by my Department, instead of the Atypical Working Scheme, which had catered for the occupation since 2015.
Following review and consideration of sectoral submissions on the topic, and further consultation with the relevant stakeholders in late 2023 I am informed by officials that the occupation of Sea-fisher will be made eligible for the General Employment Permit (GEP) in the coming weeks, with the relevant Statutory Instrument to be written shortly.
It is planned that access to the GEP will be granted via a quota made available to the sector. The occupation will be subject to a range of criteria, including the standard GEP Minimum Annual Remuneration of €34,000, based on a minimum €16.77 hourly rate and a 39-hour week.
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