Written Answers. - Work Permits.
Arthur Morgan
Question:
186
Mr. Morgan
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the criteria for issuing work permits to citizens of Turkey to work here; the number of Turkish people who have applied for such permits since 2000; the number of Turkish people who have been granted work permits since 2000; and if there are inspections by her Department to confirm that those who received permits in that time are in compliance with the terms of their permits.
[25284/03]
Employers wishing to employ Turkish nationals on work permits have to meet the same criteria as in the case of other non-EEA nationals. The employer applies for the work permit. The number of permits granted in respect of Turkish nationals since year 2000 is as follows:
|
Year
|
New
|
Renewal
|
Total
|
|
2000
|
49
|
20
|
69
|
|
2001
|
89
|
31
|
120
|
|
2002
|
86
|
70
|
156
|
|
2003
|
342
|
86
|
428
|
A significant number of the personnel in question are accounted for by one employer, a Turkish civil engineering concern.
Where overseas contractors have been successful in winning significant infrastructure contracts such as those at the power stations in Lanesboro, Shannonbridge, the Ballincollig bypass and social housing in Dublin, the Department has been, and still is, prepared to issue work permits to allow in a specified number of foreign employees to deliver on foot of such contracts, on the following basis: the number of permits issued is limited in respect of each contract; employees are tied to the contractor while in Ireland; permits are of specified duration; permits allow the employment of an employee only on a specified contract site; and Irish employment law applies in each case – for example, the relevant registered employment agreement, REA, must be must be observed in each case.
The contractors in question, to date mainly Turkish and Polish companies, are, in effect, contract service suppliers. This refers to a situation where a company based outside the State wins a contract with a client company based in Ireland and wishes to bring in non-EEA personnel to work here on the client site as part of that contract. It is normal international practice to provide for the limited entry of employees in such circumstances. This also features in mode four of the emerging WTO-GATS framework. Indeed, the Department would be happy to see further interest from overseas contractors in the area of infrastructure.
The number of employees allowed into the State, even for contract service suppliers, will continue to depend on conditions in the labour market here and the relevant construction unions in Ireland are familiar with this approach. The construction sector in Ireland is still enjoying very buoyant conditions. All employees in Ireland enjoy the protection of employment rights legislation and, where specific complaints are made, my Department is prepared to investigate.
