Jimmy Deenihan
Question:50 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she is satisfied with the changes introduced to the immigrant labour scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3350/02]
Written Answers. - Immigrant Workers.
Brian Hayes
Question:80 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that the new regulations pertaining to immigrant workers are satisfactory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3352/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 80 together.
The new procedures which have been put in place by my Department pertaining to immigrant workers were introduced in light of recent changes in the economic climate in Ireland and internationally and an increase in the level of unemployment. They are designed to ensure that employers are making all reasonable efforts to recruit locally or through the wider EEA market before looking to employ non-EEA nationals, by obliging employers to register job vacancies with FÁS before making a work permit application.
These new arrangements came into operation on 2 January 2002, and as job vacancies can take some four to six weeks to process through FÁS, it is too early yet to measure the impact of the new system in sourcing Irish-EEA staff. However, I am satisfied that the new procedures are an appropriate policy response to the changed labour market. The implementation of the new arrangements will be monitored closely.