Tánaiste introduces new arrangements for spouses of skilled non-EEA nationals

Tánaiste introduces new arrangements for spouses of skilled non-EEA nationals

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney today (Wednesday 18^th February 2004) announced the introduction of a new initiative to facilitate easier access to the Irish labour market by spouses of certain skilled non-EEA nationals working in Ireland.

Announcing the new measures the Tánaiste said "for sometime now I have been concerned at our continued capacity to attract and retain highly skilled personnel where their spouses do not have what is, in effect, an automatic right to work in this country. This problem is perhaps most acute in relation to some 4,500 highly trained nurses from outside the EEA who do not face this difficulty in other countries."

"In light of this situation and its possible negative impact to both our healthcare services and private industry I now propose to introduce these new arrangements which will be confined to the spouses of persons working here on Working Visas/Work Authorisations, to spouses of certain intra-company transferees and spouses of certain academics and researchers. In cases where some medical professionals are still working on work permits these will be dealt with on a case by case basis."

"Currently most spouses travelling to Ireland arrive on a spouses visa which does not allow them to work. However, where they do find a job they can and do succeed in having a work permit issued on their behalf. The new rules I am announcing today are aimed at giving greater ease of access to employment for those spouses of the estimated 10,000 skilled non-EEA nationals working in the Irish labour market under the above arrangements. Of course not all of these persons would have spouses and not all spouses are interested in coming to work in Ireland.

"At present, certain job categories are ineligible for the granting of work permits, these include the broad retail sector and child-minding in private dwellings. This restriction will not apply to the spouses intended to benefit from these new arrangements.

"There are currently an estimated 9,000 workers employed under the Work Visa/Work Authorisation Scheme which was introduced in June 2000 as a fast-track alternative to the work permit regime so as to facilitate recruitment of overseas nationals in sectors experiencing particular skills shortages. These highly skilled workers fall into the following categories; nurses and other medical professionals, construction professionals and IT specialists.

"The important role these workers play in our economy must be recognised. We must ensure that we have in place mechanisms to attract and retain these workers particularly in a global environment which has now become not just competitive for goods and services but also for the people who contribute to their delivery."

In relation to workers currently here on intra-company transfers i.e. posted to Ireland for a fixed period from a foreign company with a presence in Ireland the Tánaiste said: "in light of recent experience, I believe there is now a strong case for extending these new rules to the spouses of these mainly skilled group of workers".

The Tánaiste said the new rules will apply as soon as all practical arrangements have been put place.

ENDS/ETE 1192