Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will consider including non-EEA migrant fishers in the critical skills permit programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6497/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time.
The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of highly skilled roles that are in critical short supply in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a ready source of labour is available from within Ireland and the EEA.
The occupations lists undergo twice yearly evidence-based reviews, guided by available research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS. Cognisance is also taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and contextual factors such as Brexit and currently COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market. The Department also invites submissions from industry representatives and stakeholders through a public consultation process. The views of the relevant lead policy Departments are taken into account as well as those of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group which this Department chairs and on which a number of Departments are represented.
The next review of the Occupational Lists will open up in the coming weeks during Q1 2022.
Occupations on the critical skills list are eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) which attracts a remuneration threshold of €32,000 per annum where the non-EEA national holds a degree and €64,000 per annum where the non EEA national has the relevant experience.
Occupations not appearing on the ineligible occupations list may be eligible for the General Employment Permit which is the primary vehicle used by the State to attract third country nationals in occupations with remuneration thresholds of generally €30,000 but with some lower rates as exceptions for certain sectors. The General Employment Permit is also subject to a Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT), demonstrating that the employer was unable to fill the position from the Irish and EEA labour market.
The occupation Fisherman is currently listed on the Ineligible Occupations List and therefore not eligible for the grant of an employment permit.
The employment of non-EEA nationals working as fishermen on Irish vessels are facilitated with immigration permission under the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) which operates on a cross-departmental basis and is undergoing review at present.
