Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 May 2023
235. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when his Department expects to proceed with the next stage of the Employment Permits Bill 2022; and if he can confirm that the Bill will be amended by Government to allow workers to change employer more easily. [23726/23]
View answerThe Employment Permits Bill 2022 has been drafted to respond to the need to consolidate existing employment permits legislation, to modernise some provisions, and to facilitate a more flexible approach to the employment permits system in Ireland.
The ability for permit holders to transfer to a new employer, inside the existing permit duration, and without the need for a new employment permit application, is proposed under the Bill for General Employment Permits (GEP) and the Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP). Drafting provisions have been prepared to make it easier for the permit holder to notify my Department in the event of a change of employer and therefore continue to remain in employment in the State.
Second stage of the Bill occurred on 12 October 2022 and Minister for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English raised the Employment Permits Bill 2022 for reading at the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 30th November 2022. Dáil Report Stage is expected to take place prior to the summer recess.
