Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
191. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when upholstery and furniture making was removed from the general employment permit lists; the reason for its removal at that time; if he is aware of labour constraints in the sector; if there are any plans to reintroduce this to the general list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44768/23]
View answerIreland operates a managed employment permits system, maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals are available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine one.
The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of highly skill professional roles that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a source of labour should be available from within Ireland and the EEA.
The roles of upholsterer and furniture maker are on the ineligible list since the lists were compiled in conjunction with the commencement of the Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014.
The Occupational Lists (Ineligible Occupations List and Critical Skills Occupation List) for employment permits are subject to evidence-based reviews incorporating consideration of available research, and a public consultation which provides stakeholders with an opportunity to submit data on the extent of skills or labour shortages. Submissions to the review are considered by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy with membership drawn from key Government Departments who may provide observations on the occupations under review.
My Department is actively engaging with other government departments to consider submissions received to the latest public consultation to review the Occupations Lists which was open between June and August this year. Over 100 submissions were received covering a number of occupations in a range of sectors with one submission making reference to furniture and the woodworking profession.
A report containing recommendations for my consideration is expected in November.
