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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 4

Written Answers. - Foreign Students' Work Permits.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

319 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the position concerning foreign full-time students in Ireland, who have student visas but who wish to work either full-time or part-time during college vacations; and whether temporary work visas could be issued to such students.

In accordance with the requirements of the aliens legislation the position is that a non-EC national may not be legally employed in this country until a work permit has first been granted by my Department to the prospective employer of the person in question.

Because of the serious unemployment situation, a very restrictive policy has been adopted in this area, with the objective of ensuring that as many jobs as possible are filled by Irish and EC nationals.

The Deputy will be aware of the practice under which many Irish students undertake part-time or summer employment in order to finance their studies. With the difficult employment situation throughout the EC, fewer traditional sources of holiday employment are available to our students. It is essential, therefore, that we try to preserve for them whatever summer employment opportunities are available here.

The conditions under which non-EC full-time students are permitted by the immigration authorities to enter and reside in the State forbid such persons to take up employment.

In the above circumstances, I would not be prepared to relax the normal criteria which apply in considering work permit applications, either on behalf of non-EC full-time students or otherwise.

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