The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has lead responsibility for employment permits. Arising from my ongoing engagement with our sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with DETE regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food.
Granting employment permits is one method for helping to fill labour shortages, although it is considered to be a last resort. In advance of this, the Department of Social Protection are involved in helping employers recruit from the domestic and European labour market. Sectors also need to have appropriate labour attraction and retention policies in place.
DETE carried out a Public Consultation from June to August 2023 to review the occupations list eligible for employment permits and they are currently reviewing the submissions received. The submissions from the agri-food sector include a request for work permits on pig farms. While my Department may be consulted, the final decision on the availability of employment permits for any specific occupation is with DETE.
Due to the large number of submissions received, it is expected that the final recommendations on the occupations eligible to apply for employment permits will be prepared for approval by November. This will follow engagement with relevant Government Departments and will be informed by the Inter-Departmental Group on Economic Migration Policy.
