Ireland has a clear division between economic migration and general immigration policies. My Department administers the employment permits legislation and criteria for the granting of employment permit permissions to work in the State. Under the Employment Permits Acts (as amended), in order to work in the State, all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice allowing them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an employment permit.
While research as outlined has not been carried out, my Department has been in contact with the Department of Justice in relation to student visas and work rights.
As the Deputy is aware, immigration policy and permission fall under the remit of the Department of Justice and are beyond the scope of this Department. Therefore, the granting of an extension to immigration permissions is at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the relevant conditions attached to permissions is a matter for the office of Immigration Service Delivery in the Department of Justice.