Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
206. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to the addition of a bespoke seasonal employment permit scheme for foreign workers for fruit-picking and other seasonal employments in the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33296/23]
View answerA Review of Economic Migration Policy undertaken in 2018 concluded that while the employment permits system provides a robust framework to supplement skills and labour needs in the State, the current legislation imposes inflexibility in its operation. In order to increase the agility and responsiveness of the system, the Review recommended that new legislation be initiated.
The 2018 Review found that there is a clear role for time limited work permissions for seasonal contracts for typically 6-9 months, and that there is a strong demand for such a permit type. To meet that demand, the Seasonal Employment Permit has been devised, to provide for non-EEA nationals to work in the State temporarily while retaining legal domicile in a third country, for the purposes of employment in a sector of seasonal activity.
The Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill sets out to consolidate the existing legislation to create a more accessible statutory basis and greater flexibility for our economic migration system. A key feature of the Bill is the proposed introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit.
In May 2023 Government gave approval for the Department to proceed with legal drafting of provisions for a Seasonal Employment Permit, ahead of Dáil Report Stage. It is planned that the Seasonal Employment Permit will initially be introduced on a pilot basis with a selection of companies in the horticultural (fruit and vegetable) sector.
