Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 February 2023
31. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the progress being made in simplifying the process for employment permits and immigration permissions to improve on timelines to secure critical skill workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to non-EEA nationals who come to Ireland for the purpose of taking up employment. While the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for assessing labour market needs and processing employment permits, including for critical skills occupations, my Department is responsible for processing visa applications, where necessary, and processing residence permissions upon arrival. On foot of this cooperation, a range of arrangements have been put in place over time to support labour market needs and facilitate those seeking to take up employment here.
Of particular note is that work is underway to reform the current system whereby employment permits and immigration permissions are dealt with separately, with a view to improving the user experience and enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting skilled migrant workers. The government agreed in principle late last year that a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions should be developed and that an Inter Departmental Working Group should be established to develop an implementation plan for consideration by Government.
The Inter-departmental Working Group will examine the operational, policy and legal considerations of simplifying the process for employment permits and immigration permissions to improve on timelines to secure critical skill workers. The Working Group’s report will also allow the government to consider opting-in to the recast EU Single Permit Directive at a future date. The objective of that measure is simplify the procedure for third country nationals wishing to migrate to the EU legally for work processes, through a single application procedure for a combined employment and residence permit.
