Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:116 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Labour if he will assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12, who is a New Zealand national living here, to obtain a work permit.
Written Answers. - Work Permit Application.
Work permits are issued by my Department in accordance with the Aliens Act 1935, the Aliens Orders 1946 and 1975 and the European Communities (Aliens) Regulations, 1977.
It is the responsibility of the prospective employer to apply for a work permit if he or she wishes to employ a non-EC national.
Such an employer must be able to show my Department that genuine efforts have been made to employ an Irish/EC national and that no suitable Irish/EC national is available.
My Department may also consult appropriate trades unions and professional and other bodies to ensure that no Irish/EC national is being deprived of employment by the granting of a work permit. The current work permit policy is a very restrictive one and must be operated in that way, particularly when so many Irish people are unable to obtain employment.
I understand from my Department that no employer has made an application for a work permit in respect of the person who is the subject of the question. If such an application is made, it will be considered in accordance with the usual criteria, principally, the availability of suitably qualified Irish/EC nationals.
In the current unemployment situation and in view of the restrictive work permits policy outlined above it would be inappropriate for me to offer special assistance to non-EC nationals wishing to obtain employment here.