Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1221. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when she will amend migration policy to allow industries that are experiencing serious staff shortages to hire persons outside the current available pool. [34627/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccess to a high quality, innovative and adaptable talent pool is critical for the sustainable growth of the Irish economy and keeping Ireland competitive.
Employment permits are part of the response to addressing skills needs likely to continue into the medium term. Employment permit policy has focussed on facilitating the recruitment of highly skilled personnel from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) where skills needs cannot be met by normal recruitment or training.
The system for determining eligibility for employment permits is flexible and responsive to change with the list of eligible occupations reviewed on a bi-annual basis. However, it is not intended as a long-term substitute for upskilling the State’s resident workforce or sourcing skills from within the EEA. In undertaking any adjustment in the orientation of the system, the interests of the some 219,000 people on the Live Register in Ireland and the 17.5 million unemployed in the EU 28 must be remembered.
In recognition of the changing labour market, I requested that a review of economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system be undertaken, to ensure that our policies are fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors. A full report of the review will be presented shortly, and will provide recommendations on a framework for the future operation of the employment permits regime.
