Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing a 24-month postgraduate work permit with a reduced minimum annual remuneration threshold salary in order to assist non-EEA graduates to transition from the stamp 1G visa to the work permit system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25026/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The attraction and retention of recent graduates in the labour market is an important facet of ensuring Ireland continues to foster a highly skilled workforce. This topic was raised by many of the respondents to the recent ‘Consultation on Increases to Employment Permit Minimum Annual Remuneration Thresholds’. Input on this matter was received from representatives of both third level institutions and international students, as well as employers who greatly benefitted from these recent graduates. These contributions are being given due consideration as part of the ongoing review on employment permit remuneration, which has been informed by this consultation.

Graduates of Irish third level institutes, including non-EEA graduates, form the backbone of Ireland’s highly skilled workforce. This is recognised in the Department of Justice’s Stamp 1G immigration permission. I can confirm that, should the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science or the Department of Justice seek to introduce any new measures to improve the transition of non-EEA graduates into the labour market, my department will engage constructively on their assessment and implementation.