I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 212 together.
My Department remains open to submissions to the occupation list review, from the poultry sector, where endorsed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Ireland'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 but is not a substitute or pretext for avoiding the challenge of up-skilling our resident workforce.
My Department keeps the occupations for employment permits under regular review to ensure it remains responsive to labour market needs. The review process involves a public consultation inviting stakeholder submissions, consideration of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS.
The most recent review of the occupation lists commenced last summer with an open public consultation attracting a wide range of stakeholder submissions. The outcome was published on 26th May, giving approval for 32 changes to eligibility for roles for employment permits. The review report can be accessed on the Department's website at: enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/employment-permits-occupations-lists-report-of-the-review-2025.html.
While poultry farming occupations where not submitted for consideration during the most recent review, my Department remains open to receiving detailed evidence from stakeholders, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, demonstrating ongoing labour shortages, recruitment difficulties and the case for providing employment permit eligibility to roles within the poultry sector.
The review process determines where adjustments are appropriate based on evidence, guided by the principles of sustainable adjustable economic migration. It is a delicate balancing act, with recommendations reached through the participation and contributions of the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy, which includes representatives of key Government Departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Changes to the eligibility of an occupation, may be considered based on evidence and the support of the lead policy Government department, and where:
• no suitable Irish/EEA workers are available;
• industry has made efforts to train or recruit domestically;
• a genuine skills shortage exists, rather than unattractive working conditions and;
• public policy and development goals are not undermined.
The Department will continue to monitor labour market developments and review employment permit policy to ensure that it supports enterprise, responds effectively to genuine skills and labour shortages, and remains aligned with Ireland's wider economic, social and workforce needs.
