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Work Permits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Questions (1240, 1284, 1300)

Mick Barry

Question:

1240. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice when the Government will announce its decision on any changes to the work permit regime for migrant fishers from outside the EEA and the solution for the hundreds of currently undocumented fishers who are ineligible for the scheme for the undocumented given that the interdepartmental group appointed to review the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers has concluded its work and submitted recommendations to her and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19333/22]

View answer

Patrick Costello

Question:

1284. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice when the report of the review of the atypical working scheme for sea fishers will be completed. [20208/22]

View answer

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

1300. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice when her Department will publish the Interdepartmental review of the atypical work permit scheme for non-European Economic Area fishers; if her Department plans to incorporate fishermen into the critical skills permit scheme; the estimated cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20672/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1240, 1284 and 1300 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) 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.

The Review of the AWS for Sea Fishers is a cross departmental review with representatives from my Department, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

As part of its work the Review Group consulted with various stakeholders involved in the scheme. Observations on the operation of the scheme were made by stakeholders either via meetings with the Review Group and/or submissions received. Almost all stakeholders provided observations on the scheme.

The cross-departmental group recently completed its work and its report remains under active consideration by the relevant Departments, with a view to bringing recommendations to Government in the near future. In the meantime, the Oversight Committee, chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine continues to oversee the scheme as currently structured.

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