Questions

72. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he is aware of the practice of agencies and employers charging workers recruited from overseas illegitimate recruitment fees in order to secure their employment; whether his Department plans to issue any guidance to permit holders on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40171/25]

206. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an appeal by a person (details supplied) that has been submitted against the decision of his Department not to renew a work permit application has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38382/25]

200. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if clarity on this matter will be provided. [36899/25]

85. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will consider expanding the requirements of the labour market needs test to include roles advertised on the Public Appointments Service, in order to fulfil the requirement for a general employment permit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36619/25]

321. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of work permits issued in relation to positions in the IT and technology sector in each month from January 2024 to date; the breakdown of the country of origin of the total number of such work permits granted in that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35916/25]

324. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment since the removal of sea fishers from the list of non-approved occupations for the general employment permit in July 2024, the number of applications for such permits made by fishing vessel owner employers; the number of such applications granted by the Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36159/25]

325. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the appeal that has been submitted against the decision of his Department not to renew a work permit application be considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36160/25]

326. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the appeal that has been submitted against the decision of his Department not to renew a work permit application be considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36161/25]

327. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the appeal that has been submitted against the decision of his Department not to renew a work permit application be considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36162/25]

66. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of works permits issued to persons from outside the UK and EEA intending to take up positions of dentists and dental nurses in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [34732/25]

356. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the most appropriate category under which a steel and plant hire company should apply for a critical skills employment permits for a metal fabricator who is a non-EU/EEA national; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33733/25]

6. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps being taken to address the huge delays associated with work permit applications, particularly for the licensed haulage sector in Ireland; if he has met with the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, to discuss the issues it is experiencing due to these ongoing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/25]

7. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment his plans to expand the lists of occupations for roles that are eligible for employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32942/25]

27. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the average processing times for employment permits this year; how this compares with the same period last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32945/25]

28. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on the current processing times for general employment permit and critical skills employment permit applications; the efforts being made by his Department to reduce application processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33136/25]

57. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of employment permit applications received to date in 2025, and the number of permits issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32941/25]

354. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of work permits issued to persons from outside the UK or EEA intending to take up position as doctors, nurses and other positions in the health service, in each year from 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32075/25]

358. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a detailed statement on the pre-launch testing and validation process for the new online work permit application system, specifically addressing whether the system was tested under real-world load conditions; and if a parallel run was considered to mitigate risks, given the widespread login and access failures rep…

359. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific measures identified and implemented to resolve the root causes of the persistent login and access failures experienced by users of the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025; and when a stable and fully functional system is expected to be operational for all users. [32201/25]

360. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of individuals that have lost their legal status or experienced employment disruption as a direct result of the system failures with the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025; and what immediate steps are being taken by the Department to support and provide remedies for those affected…

361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current average response time for technical support queries related to the new online work permit application system; and what steps the Department is taking to ensure accountability and improve the timeliness of responses to user complaints and technical issues. [32203/25]

362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will publish up-to-date statistics regarding the application backlogs, new applications lodged, and the number of complaints received and resolved concerning the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025. [32204/25]

363. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason agents and users were not consulted prior to the roll out of the new online work permit application system; and the specific actions being taken to rebuild trust and improve stakeholder engagement in future digital transformations within the Department. [32205/25]

456. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he plans to increase the number of work permits for people working here in the caring professions given the shortage of staff in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29510/25]

473. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the renewal of a general employment permit (details supplied) will be expedited given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30672/25]