Vol. 532 No. 1
86 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government's policy in relation to economic immigrants; if unlimited numbers are to be allowed into Ireland; the checks or inquiries which are made into the background and qualifications of such immigrant applicants; if a quota system exists for economic immigrants; if so, the way in which such quota is determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6867/01]
Ireland is a member state of the European Union which has a population of some 370 million and a labour force of 171 million. There is free movement of labour within the EU and the wider European Economic Area which includes Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Policy in relation to economic immigration from non-EEA countries is built on facilitating employers' needs to fill job vacancies where it has not been possible to fill them from within Ireland or the EEA, and addressing skills shortages in particular areas. There are no national or sectoral quotas in relation to economic immigration. The State facilitates entry to work in response to applications from employers in respect of specific vacancies.
The skills of those coming in under the work permit system and the newer working visa-work authorisation arrangements range from the very low skilled to high skilled areas. This is not surprising, given that the latest vacancy survey suggests a vacancy rate of 6.5% or perhaps up to 78,000 vacancies.
