Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
324. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment since the removal of sea fishers from the list of non-approved occupations for the general employment permit in July 2024, the number of applications for such permits made by fishing vessel owner employers; the number of such applications granted by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36159/25]
View answerIreland’s policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland, the European Union and other European Economic Area (EEA) states. Policy in relation to applications for employment permits remains focused on facilitating the recruitment from outside the EEA of skilled and highly skilled personnel, where the requisite skills cannot be met by normal recruitment or by training. Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce, with an emphasis on the process of lifelong learning, and on maximising the potential of EEA nationals to fill our skills deficits.
In July 2024, my department introduced a new quota of 150 general employment permits for the role of sea fisher. Since then, a total of 14 applications have been submitted in respect of this role, and six permits have issued to date.
The Employment Permits legislation sets out the criteria which must be satisfied in order for an Employment Permit to be issued. The Employment Permit Section informs me that the most common reasons for the refusal of an employment permit include contract or documentation issues, salary below minimum threshold and immigration issues.
