Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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315. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to examine the case of employment issues for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28498/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My department commenced the Employment Permits Act 2024 in September last year, representing the biggest reform of employment permits legislation in over a decade. The 2024 Act allows for a more modern, flexible employment permits system as well as ensuring employee rights are maintained and the domestic labour market is protected.

The Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) is one of the criteria used in the employment permits legislation to ensure that job vacancies are first offered to nationals of Ireland, the EEA, the UK or the Swiss Confederation. It underpins the Government’s employment creation objectives by ensuring employment opportunities are accessible to those already in the local and EEA labour markets by requiring that the vacancy is advertised for at least 28 days. If no suitably qualified candidate can be found within Ireland/the EEA, the employer can then apply for an employment permit.

The 2024 Act amended the LMNT process making it easier for employers to place vacancy advertisements. The Act eliminates the need for hard copy newspaper advertisements and allows online employment website postings to be submitted as part of the employment permit application criteria.

The requirement for an LMNT to be conducted before an application is submitted applies to the General Employment Permit, the Seasonal Employment Permit, and the Contract for Services Employment Permit for eligible roles across all sectors.

LMNTs are not required for roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List, as they are highly skilled occupations which are experiencing labour or skill shortages which are required for the proper functioning of the Irish economy.

There are no plans to alter the 28-day period for occupations where it is required. To maintain fairness and transparency in the employment permit system and comply with the Employment Permits Regulations 2024, it is not possible to make exceptions to the 28 day time-frame for individual applicants.