Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
166. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to provide an update on the proposed amendments to the employment permits system, including the review of the 50:50 rule under the Employment Permits Act 2024; the timeframe for bringing forward legislative or policy changes arising from this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45637/26]
View answerIreland's employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. It is not a substitute or pretext for avoiding the challenge of up-skilling our resident workforce.
The system operates to maximise the benefits of economic migration while minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland and the broader EEA labour market. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine.
The 50:50 rule requires that at the time of application for an employment permit, 50% or more of the employees of the employer are Irish/EEA/Swiss/UK nationals. This policy fulfils Ireland's obligations under the Union Preference principles of membership of the EU. The mandatory application of the 50:50 rule also underpins the Government’s employment creation strategy by compelling employers in the State to hire in a balanced manner from domestic and EEA labour markets.
As you may be aware, officials of my Department conducted a review of Ireland’s use of the 50:50 rule as set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024. The review found that Ireland operates among the strictest interpretations of Union Preference at company level and proposed potential amendments to primary legislation. Government approval has now been granted to prepare the general scheme for these amendments to implement proposed changes to the 50:50 rule restriction.
It is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate on the legislative processes and Oireachtas scheduling but my Department remains committed to delivering these amendments and ensuring that the employment permits system continues to be responsive and aligned with key national priorities and changes in a dynamic labour market.
