Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 October 2019
140. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the reason nurses from outside the EU with diplomas, who are seeking work permits here, are not considered under the critical skills permit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42365/19]
View answerThe critical skills employment permit is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market. Eligible occupations, on the critical skills occupation list, under this type of permit are deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland's economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled and in significant shortage of supply in our labour market. For this employment type non-EEA nationals must be the holder of a degree level qualification or higher in the relevant field if the remuneration on offer is between €30,000 and €60,000 per annum. In cases where the remuneration is €60,000 or more, the non-EEA national can be either the holder of a degree level qualification or higher in the relevant field or have the necessary experience for the role.
The determination of qualification equivalence is made by NARIQ Ireland; information is available at www.qqi.ie/Articles/Pages/Qualifications-Recognition.aspx.
Where NARIQ Ireland determines that a qualification is equivalent to a degree awarded by an Irish third level institution, the holder of that qualification may be granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit if they also meet the other conditions for grant. However, if the qualification is deemed not to be equivalent, then the criteria for a Critical Skills Employment Permit where the remuneration is less than €60,000 per annum cannot be met.
Qualified non-EEA nurses who wish to work in Ireland may be eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permits where they have been awarded a relevant degree or degree equivalent and the proposed employment meets the criteria for this type of employment permit. Where a non-EEA nurse is qualified to practice nursing in Ireland but does not hold a relevant degree or degree equivalent as recognised by NARIQ Ireland, they may be eligible for a General Employment Permit in order to work here.
Non-EEA nurses who wish to work in Ireland must normally complete an adaptation process in order to register with The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Permission to be in the State to undertake this process is granted by the Department of Justice and Equality.
