As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's employment permit system.
The Scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the employment of non-EEA workers within defined segments of the Irish fishing fleet and was welcomed as a solution to the risk of exploitation and to guarantee employment rights and protections to non-EEA fishers availing of the Scheme.
A total of 440 individual fishers have received letters of approval since the inception of the Scheme, with a total of 68 fishers having changed their employer, as set out in the table below.
|
Year
|
Number
|
|
2016
|
0
|
|
2017
|
3
|
|
2018
|
13
|
|
2019
|
13
|
|
2020
|
22
|
|
2021
|
17
|
|
Total
|
68
|
I can confirm to the Deputy that there is no 30-day timeframe within which an individual is required to submit an application to change their employer. An application for such a change can be made at any time during the validity of the permission already granted to the individual fisher. This has been clearly outlined in the terms of the Atypical Working Scheme since early 2017.
The entitlement to change employer is also clearly set out in the letter of approval granted under the Scheme and provided to all successful applicants both in English and in their native language.
