Vol. 514 No. 1
43 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position concerning the issuing of work permits to non-EU citizens; the number of permits issued during 1999 and to date in 2000; the number of asylum seekers eligible to work who have availed of the opportunity to get a work permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3646/00]
The position regarding the issue of work permits is that my Department examines applications for work permits from employers in this country to employ non-European economic area nationals and, where appropriate, issues such permits. A total of 6,215 such permits were issued during 1999 and a further 707 were issued in January.
As regards asylum seekers who are eligible to work, the Government decided in December 1999 that they will no longer require a work permit to work here. At that point a total of 56 work permits had been issued to eligible asylum seekers by my Department and a further 11 were approved, which subsequently issued.
Since December 1999 eligible asylum seekers have been issued with an identification and verification letter by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which they can present to potential employers when seeking employment.
How many of the remaining approximately 1,800 asylum seekers who received an identification and verification letter have found work?
The figures come from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Since December a total of 1,325 verification letters have been issued by the Department and a further 150 are ready to issue. There is no information available on how many of those have secured employment. I will be tracking that with that Department and will be glad to keep the Deputy informed of developments. The system is much more user friendly from the point of view of asylum seekers. They have their letter and they can simply go and get a job. It is important that we know how that system is working.
Will the Minister confirm, even though they have the letter, what is the process when they arrive at an employer's door with that letter? Is it not the case that the employer must still apply for and get the work permit? The letter does not provide a carte blanche to work because there is still a process to be gone through. Will the Minister of State explain what is involved?
There is a process involved. Those involved have the right to work. While the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform deals with the individuals concerned, my Department deals with licensing the employment side. The employer will have to follow the procedure involved. We will monitor the numbers who have secured jobs and I will keep the Deputy informed.
I thank the Minister of State for that information. Is he aware that within the past two weeks employers seeking non-national and non-EU citizens have been told they must advertise on the EURES system and wait for four weeks for somebody in Europe to apply for the job? Is he also aware that this was not the case up to two weeks ago? How many FÁS offices are doing this and how many have the capability to advertise in this way? Farmers who do not have computers have been told to advertise on the EURES system for, say, mushroom pickers and wait for four weeks before they can apply to employ a Latvian, Lithuanian or some other non-EU citizen willing to pick mushrooms.
I will check the information the Deputy has brought to my attention. As Minister of State with responsibility for labour affairs I am working closely with the Tánaiste in this area. I am anxious that the system runs as smoothly as possible. Companies seeking this type of recruitment are in the IT area and in catering hotels and restaurants. Where they have a need for employees they can seek them in the European economic area, which includes Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein as well as the EU. If everything goes smoothly and the paperwork is correct the process should take four weeks.
However, I will follow up on the information the Deputy has brought to my attention. It is news to me that the system she has outlined is making it more difficult for employers. That is not the way we should proceed. Certain sectors have needs and we should try to make the system as user friendly as possible.
