Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

380. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25752/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

381. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding critical skills employment permits, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25775/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

382. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a general employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25776/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

383. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a dependent, partner, spouse employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25777/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

384. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a contract for employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25778/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

385. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a sports and cultural employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

386. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an intra company transfer employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25780/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

387. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an exchange agreement employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 387, inclusive, together.

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising disruption to Ireland’s labour market.

The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. However, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals are available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine one.

The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of highly skill professional roles that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a source of labour should be available from within Ireland and the EEA.

There are nine different types of employment permit - Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, Contract for Services Employment Permit, Reactivation Employment Permit, Internship Employment Permit, Sport and Cultural Employment Permit, and Exchange Agreement Employment Permit.

As the data requested by the Deputy is extensive, it has been provided in two tabs at the following link:

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

388. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an internship employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25782/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

390. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people who have had their employment permit cancelled or invalidated in 2025 and in each of the past five years, by country of origin, in tabular form. [25785/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 390 together.

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising disruption to Ireland’s labour market.

The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. However, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals are available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine one.

The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of highly skill professional roles that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a source of labour should be available from within Ireland and the EEA.

Employment permits can be revoked for several reasons, typically when the conditions under which the permit was granted are no longer being met. Common reasons for revocation include false or misleading information provided in the application, non-compliance with permit conditions, failure to commence employment within a reasonable time after the permit is issued, breach of employment or immigration laws, and failure to renew or update immigration status in line with the permit.

Permits are cancelled where the Department is notified that the person is no longer employed in the role.

Where a deportation order is issued in respect of an employment permit holder, the permit automatically ceases to be in force and is given a suspended status.

The data requested is set out at the following link:

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

389. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently holding a seasonal employment permit by country of origin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) is a new short-term employment permit. This year, a pilot scheme is operating to test its long term viability. The SEP allows third-country nationals to work in Ireland for three to seven months in a twelve month period. SEP holders must leave Ireland for five months before returning.

The SEP pilot launched earlier this year, with an initial focus on the soft-fruit and vegetable sectors. To take part in the scheme, employers must be pre-approved each year as an ‘Approved Seasonal Employer’. Like General Employment Permits, SEPs require a Labour Market Needs Test. The minimum annual remuneration threshold for SEPs has been set at €30,000 per annum, pro rata to the duration of the employment.

The SEP scheme has been designed to provide strong worker protections and any breaches of conditions in previous years will affect future approvals. Employers must provide access to accommodation, private health insurance, proper safety training, and equipment. Workers will have the option to move to another approved seasonal employer without needing a new permit if they find better conditions. It will also be straightforward for returning workers to renew their permits with the same employer each season. If a seasonal worker’s initial contract is short, their permit can be extended, at no extra cost, up to the full seven months provided any additional period is within the defined season for the employment.

An advisory group made up of employers, unions, and migrant worker representatives is overseeing the pilot phase and its review.

The Employment Permits section of my Department informs me that the number of people currently holding seasonal employment permits by country of origin are as follows:

Kyrgyzstan: 14

Tajikistan: 10

Kazakhstan: 1