Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
447. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she or her Department officials have met representatives of fishing vessel owners' organisations since 2022 to discuss the review of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44822/22]
View answer448. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice , further to Parliamentary Question No. 1240 of 26 April, if the outcome of the review of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers will be published in the near future; if she will ensure that the outcome will be published by the end of September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44823/22]
View answer449. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the number of fishers who are currently approved for the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers; the breakdown of the fishers by nationality, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44824/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 447 to 449, inclusive, 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 an employment permit under the system operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
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.
Officials of my Department have on-going engagements with various stakeholders including fishers and / or their representatives in the normal course of dealing with the operation of the AWS. Stakeholder engagement is viewed as very beneficial to the smooth operation of the AWS more generally.
I can confirm that officials from a number of Departments, including my own, have met with various stakeholders over the past months regarding the ongoing review of the AWS.
The review of the Atypical Working Scheme 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.
As of 9 September 2022, there are currently 276 individuals holding a letter of approval under the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet. These 276 Individuals represents all individuals in receipt of a letter of permission under the terms of the Scheme between Friday 10 June 2021 and Friday 9 September 2022, allowing for the 90 day validity period of the issued letter of permission.
The breakdown by nationality of these 276 individuals is as follows:
|
Nation of Origin |
|
|
Philippines |
131 |
|
Indonesia |
54 |
|
Egypt |
39 |
|
Ghana |
39 |
|
Other |
13 |
|
Total |
276 |
