______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 22/02/2024
Question Number(s): 11,26 Question Reference(s): 8274/24, 8275/24
Department: Justice
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
______________________________________________
QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Justice the work her Department has undertaken in designing a solution to integrate immigration permissions and employment permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
– David Stanton T.D.
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 22 February, 2024.
* To ask the Minister for Justice when she intends to report to Government with an implementation plan and associated timelines for the development of a fully integrated single application process for immigration permissions and employment permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
– David Stanton T.D.
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 22 February, 2024.
REPLY
I am sure the Deputy will agree that migration plays an essential and very positive role in Ireland’s society and economy. It is vital to addressing labour shortages at all skill levels across the economy and has been a key driver of growth in Ireland.
As the Deputy will be aware, issuing visas and residence permits is the responsibility of my Department while the criteria and conditions for obtaining employment permits are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Both Departments work closely together to ensure that Ireland’s labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Irish society and the economy generally.
The Government agreed in principle late in 2022 that a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions should be developed and established an Inter Departmental Working Group to develop an implementation plan for consideration by Government.
I can advise the Deputy that work has been underway over the last year to examine and reform the current system whereby separate applications have to be made for employment permits and immigration permissions. This reform is with a view to improving the user experience, enhancing Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting skilled migrant workers and aligning with EU standards.
Both Departments are working to design solutions that better integrate the employment permits and immigration permissions processes. A number of process and IT improvements are in progress, which will result in enhanced data collection and quality as well as dual employer/employee access and alignment between the information made available online to applicants from both Departments.
In the short term, a range of operational improvements will be made to assist applicants. These will be introduced over the next 18 months and will include streamlining fees, removing duplication of certain checks carried out by both Departments and reducing the number of documents required at immigration registration by pre-validating certain key documents.
Over the medium term, these steps will be built on to develop a fully integrated single application process.
Ultimately these improvements will mean that a nurse from India, for example, moving to Ireland to work will only have to go through one application process and pay one fee to complete the requirements to work and live in Ireland.
I intend to report to Government with an implementation plan and associated timelines in the coming weeks. My expectation is that it should be possible to introduce concrete improvements and efficiencies for applicants in the short term, and then build on this to develop a more fully integrated system over the medium term.
