Vol. 458 No. 5
25 Mr. D. McDowell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of applications for work visas which were considered over the most recent period for which figures are available; the number of visas which were granted; and if he will give a breakdown of the applicants by nationality. [14832/95]
I assume the Deputy is talking about work permits. In the period January to December 1994, the latest date for which statistics are available, 4,377 work permits were considered. A total of 4,293 work permits were granted, of these 3,051 were new permits and 1,242 were renewals. A total of 84 applications were refused, of these 79 were new applications and five were renewals.
Statistics regarding nationality are recorded only in respect of work permits granted. Work permits were granted in respect of 82 different nationalities in 1994. The principal nationalities of persons in respect of whom work permits were granted during 1994 are as follows:
|
Nationality Granted |
Number of Permits |
|
Pakistan |
852 |
|
USA |
771 |
|
India |
661 |
|
Malaysia |
197 |
|
Japan |
178 |
|
Egypt |
114 |
|
Sudan |
112 |
|
Australia |
111 |
|
Hong Kong |
108 |
|
Canada |
102 |
|
All others |
1,087 |
|
Total |
4,293 |
I am arranging to have circulated to the House a full list of nationalities of persons in respect of whom work permits were granted in 1994.
Work Permits issued 1994
|
Country |
Annual Permits Issued |
Total |
|
|
New |
Renewals |
||
|
Albania |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Algeria |
16 |
12 |
28 |
|
Argentina |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Armenia |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Australia |
83 |
28 |
111 |
|
Austria |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Bahamas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Bahrain |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Bangladesh |
37 |
9 |
46 |
|
Barbados |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Belize |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Belarus |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Bosnia |
19 |
0 |
19 |
|
Brazil |
10 |
2 |
12 |
|
Bulgaria |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Burma |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Burundi |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cameroun |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Canada |
70 |
32 |
102 |
|
Chile |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
China |
43 |
29 |
72 |
|
Colombia |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Croatia |
6 |
4 |
10 |
|
Cuba |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cyprus |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Czechoslovakia |
12 |
6 |
18 |
|
Egypt |
79 |
35 |
114 |
|
Equador |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ethiopia |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Finland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Ghana |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Grenada |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Guatemala |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Guyana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Haiti |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hawaii |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hong Kong |
63 |
45 |
108 |
|
Hungary |
10 |
2 |
12 |
|
Iceland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
India |
462 |
199 |
661 |
|
Indonesia |
6 |
2 |
8 |
|
Iran |
31 |
10 |
41 |
|
Iraq |
35 |
7 |
42 |
|
Israel |
9 |
3 |
12 |
|
Jamaica |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Japan |
96 |
82 |
178 |
|
Jordan |
20 |
7 |
27 |
|
South Korea |
19 |
7 |
26 |
|
Kenya |
5 |
7 |
12 |
|
Kuwait |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Lebanon |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
Liechenstein |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Libya |
43 |
16 |
59 |
|
Madagascar |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Malawi |
1 |
3 |
4 |
|
Malaysia |
143 |
54 |
197 |
|
Malta |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
Mauritius |
16 |
6 |
22 |
|
Mexico |
13 |
2 |
15 |
|
Morocco |
10 |
1 |
11 |
|
Nepal |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
New Zealand |
27 |
14 |
41 |
|
Nigeria |
62 |
23 |
85 |
|
Norway |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Oman |
13 |
1 |
14 |
|
Pakistan |
599 |
253 |
852 |
|
Palestine |
36 |
5 |
41 |
|
Peru |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Philippines |
7 |
5 |
12 |
|
Poland |
17 |
3 |
20 |
|
Qatar |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Romania |
36 |
3 |
39 |
|
Santa Lucia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
Seychelles |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sierra Leone |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Singapore |
13 |
1 |
14 |
|
South Africa |
24 |
15 |
39 |
|
Somalia |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sri Lanka |
10 |
6 |
16 |
|
Sudan |
77 |
35 |
112 |
|
Sweden |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
28 |
14 |
42 |
|
Syria |
11 |
6 |
17 |
|
Taiwan |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Tanzania |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Thialand |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Tibet |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Trinidad |
9 |
4 |
13 |
|
Tunisia |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Turkey |
8 |
4 |
12 |
|
Uganda |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Ukraine |
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
USA |
581 |
190 |
771 |
|
USSR |
28 |
14 |
42 |
|
UAE |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
West Indies |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Yugoslavia |
7 |
5 |
12 |
|
Zambia |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Zimbabwe |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total Issued |
3,051 |
1,242 |
4,293 |
|
Permits Refused |
79 |
5 |
84 |
|
Dealt With |
3,130 |
1,247 |
4,377 |
I am grateful to the Minister for his detailed reply. I surmise that many applications from Third World applicants would be from medical doctors who work in our hospitals. I put down the question with that in mind. Can the Minister confirm that, as a general rule, Irish immigration policy as reflected in the number of work permits granted in this country reflects that of the United Kingdom? Can he also comment on the view that our policy in this regard is more suited to the United Kingdom and rather less suited to Irish needs and concerns?
The question before the House is essentially a statistical question and we really should not go beyond the bounds of that unless the Minister wishes.
I cannot give that type of information. The principle behind our approach is that there must be an effort to advertise the position and the employer must be unable to find an EU national who could suitably fill the post; that is the test applied in decisions on work permits. There are certain exceptions to particular professions. However, the broad principle is that the employer must demonstrate that the post in question could not be filled by a suitable Irish or EU national.
Does the Minister agree that the effect of this policy as it applies to doctors from the Third World working in our hospitals is most regrettable in that it requires such doctors to return to their own countries after providing valuable and, in some cases, invaluable service in our hospitals?
It has the effect that people in training would not be permitted to remain after their training period, as a general rule, unless there were other reasons that would put them in an eligible category, for example, if they were married to an Irish national. This policy has been operated for a considerable time. A review is taking place at present and I undertake to look at the issue the Deputy is raising. However, the established principle is clear. The test is whether the position could be filled by an EU national.
Does the Minister's Department maintain figures on the sectors of the economy or the nature of the jobs in respect of which permits are granted? If so, will the Minister circulate them?
We maintain such figures but I do not have them to hand. I can get them for the Deputy.
Am I to take it that only 2 per cent of all applications for work permits are refused? If that is the case many of the 2 per cent have contacted me. That is why I find that assertion astonishing. I have received between 15 and 20 letters in the past year or 18 months about people who were refused such permits. When the Minister says "considered" does that refer to all applications? Only 84 out of 4,377 — is that the total number of applications?
That is the total number of refusals. A total of 4,377 work permits were considered. In order to be considered an employer must make the application. The Deputy might be receiving correspondence from people who want a work permit but do not have an employer to make an application. An individual cannot make an application so there might be many other people who are not recorded in the statistics.
It is usually restaurant owners.
There is provision for dealing with ethnic restaurants where there is a need for a particular skill, such as a chef. That is taken into account although people would have to be able to demonstrate that they have the requisite skill. If they can do so, work permits are issued in such cases.
The Minister will agree that the manner in which such decisions are taken can be a somewhat blunt instrument. While on the surface it might appear that there is a superfluity of people eligible to do the job, when one inquires further there is not. There is a similar case in my constituency to that which concerns Deputy McDowell. A doctor who is finished training wishes to remain in his job but he has been told that others can do the job just as well as he. There is great general appreciation of this person's skills and a wish to see him retained in his position.
I accept that it is a blunt approach. It surprised me somewhat when I discovered the nature of the system. It is appropriate that a review should be undertaken. One has been under way for some time from which I hope will emerge clear criteria which would govern such decisions in the long-term. We have always adopted a fairly restrictive approach in this regard for reasons related to our unemployment problem. Such an approach has been adopted for many years.
Would the Minister consider giving more leniency to those who have been educated in Ireland? The Royal College of Surgeons could not function without overseas students.
Those students pay the full fees.
They do. Many overseas students have attended boarding schools in Ireland. Consideration should be given to people who have been educated here as that shows they have a commitment to this country. It is difficult for people, who have built up relationships with others here from, say, the age of 12 or 18 to 26, to be asked to leave.
I accept the Deputy's point which is similar to the one made by Deputy McDowell about people who have undertaken useful training. I will undertake to have that matter examined and will reply to the two Deputies at the appropriate time.
