Vol. 561 No. 4
133 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the concerns in the horticulture industry regarding the Government's proposals to limit the availability of work permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3865/03]
155 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the main features of the changes announced by her on 30 January 2003 regarding the issuing of work permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4430/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 155 together.
The changes I recently announced in the operation of the work permit facility are intended to ensure that the recruitment process has regard to changing realities at the level of the local labour market. The revised procedures are also intended to ensure that persons available locally or in the wider EEA area are given first preference, as required by our status as an EU member state. On a local labour market basis, FÁS, in consultation with my Department, will look at the occupational categories and skills profiles of persons registered with FÁS and compare these with the profile of vacancies being registered by employers. Where it is clear there is a significant pool of suitable labour available locally, my Department, on the recommendation of FÁS, will not consider an application for a work permit in that category and FÁS will assist employers in filling vacancies. The local labour market assessment, by occupational category, will be revised on a quarterly basis.
In cases where it is not clear that a suitable pool of labour is available locally and where the employer has made a genuine attempt to recruit an EEA national, the employer will be able to apply for a work permit. The new procedures should help to provide a better service in assisting employers to find suitable staff and to enable them to do so more efficiently when specific skills are agreed to be in short supply. In such cases the present four week advertising period may not be necessary.
It is intended that the operation of the new procedures will be pragmatic and that the particular characteristics and needs of horticulture and similar sectors will be taken into account. Officials of my Department will shortly meet representatives of the horticultural sector to discuss the issues arising.
