Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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237. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are any instances, apart from the specifically outlined cases of horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, health care assistants, home support workers and where an applicant’s degree was issued by an Irish third level college in the previous 12 months, where the minimum annual remuneration for the provision of a general employment permit may not be reached in the granting of an application; if he is considering any revision to the remuneration criteria for application for a general employment permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/26]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Applications for employment permits are subject to a range of criteria established under the employment permits legislation including the requirement for the employment to reach the minimum annual remuneration for the permit type and occupation being applied for.

The primary objective of the MAR framework is to ensure that employment permit holders have sufficient earnings to live in Ireland without reliance on State supports, and to prevent undercutting efforts to improve pay and conditions, or modernisation and productivity measures.

Instances may arise where a General Employment Permit is granted without the minimum annual remuneration being reached. Such cases may be due to the effective date of MAR increases or supplementary pay elements that may be included to meet the minimum salary, such as higher health insurance premiums.

Changes to the Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) thresholds for employment permits were implemented from 1st of this month in accordance with the statutory requirements set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024.

Under the employment permits legislation, there is a legal obligation on my Department to conduct an annual review of the MAR, and where average weekly earnings have increased, the MAR must increase by at least a corresponding percentage. There are however no current plans to reconsider any revision to the remuneration for an employment permit in place since 1st March 2026.