Dáil Éireann - Volume 615 - 21 February, 2006

Written Answers. - Work Permits.

Mr. P. Breen Mr. P. Breen

  419. Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person (details supplied) in County Clare could apply for a work permit for a South African as they have exhausted all other means of filling the position by a person within the enlarged EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6504/06]

Mr. Martin Mr. Martin

340

[340]   Mr. Martin: The work permit section of my Department has informed me that it has no record of any valid application in this instance. It should be pointed out, however, that incomplete and incorrectly completed applications, or applications for ineligible sectors or ineligible types of positions, are returned to the employer concerned.

I should add that, in the aftermath of EU enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, it is in cases where exceptional levels of skill and qualifications are required for the job, and the employer has made meaningful attempts to find EEA nationals first, that my Department will consider work permit applications.

Dáil Éireann 615 Written Answers. Work Permits.

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