asked the Minister for Labour if work permits have been issued to non-national crewmen working on Irish registered fishing boats while fishing in Irish territorial waters and while landing fish on shore; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Work Permits for Non-National Fishermen.
466.
Under powers conferred on him by the Aliens Act, 1935, the Minister for Justice has imposed certain restrictions on the admission of aliens into the State. One of these restrictions is that an alien may not enter the service of an employer in the State save in accordance with a permit issued to the employer by the Minister for Labour.
It is long-standing policy to issue such a permit only when an Irish national or a national of another EEC state is not available for the position on offer. This is normally established by consulting the National Manpower Service, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and SEDOC — the EEC-wide placement service.
An application was recently received in my Department for work permits for a total of 31 persons in respect of the crews of two vessels owned by an Irish-registered company. It is understood that the vessels are fishing trawlers. The application is being processed in the normal way.