Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2006
136 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the procedure to be followed by a non-EU national who has been here for the past six years on an educational visa which allowed them to participate in part-time employment but now wishes to obtain full-time employment on foot of a job offer available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42235/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom the information supplied by the Deputy it appears that the above individual entered the State to pursue a course of studies and is therefore not entitled to enter full time employment. However, it should be noted that students attending recognised programmes of study are entitled to work twenty hours per week during term time and forty hours per week during holidays without, at present, the need for a work permit.
In the aftermath of EU Enlargements, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, only in cases where exceptional levels of skill and qualifications are needed for the job, and the employer has made meaningful attempts to find EEA nationals first, will my Department now consider work permit applications.
