Vol. 573 No. 2
29 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she has taken to ensure that the spouses of foreign nurses receive work permits; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of such work permits could mean the loss of thousands of nurses to the health care system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22577/03]
Work permits may be applied for by employers in respect of spouses of non-EEA nurses in the same way as for other non-EEA workers. I am aware that there have been calls for spouses to be given an automatic entitlement to work permits. Any proposal to grant work permits on the basis of marital status rather than on the basis of skills would have broader implications for immigration policy and the labour market and will have to be considered in that context.
