The British government is reviewing the rights of spouses and partners of individuals protected by employment permits or intra-company transfers, to decide if they should be granted the ability to work in Ireland. This information was revealed by the Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, during an address last week to the Dáil in response to a question from Fine Gael TD David Stanton.
The Minister indicated that particular attention was being paid to whether partners of those under intra-company transfers should receive the privilege of working in Ireland. At present, these rules are directed by a policy regarding reunification of non-European Economic Area (EEA) families, last updated in 2016.
The existing policy states that those seeking to bring their families over must be in stable employment and capable of providing for their family without dependence on the state. The Justice Minister explained that while the policy is under revision, the department recognises the crucial role that migrant workers play in their economy and society at large.
Addressing Ireland’s appeal as a location for skilled migrant labour and the need to confront future demographic obstacles, while offering chances for the families of migrants to contribute to society, is high on their list of priorities. In addition to the revamping of the policy for non-EEA family reunification, the department is also working on unifying the current system of employment permits and immigration permissions.
An agreement in principle has been reached by the Government to create a solitary application process for employment permits and immigration permissions and an interdepartmental working group is being formed to construct an implementation strategy for the Government’s review. This group’s remit includes the evaluation of operational, policy and legal implications related to simplifying the procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions, with a focus on expediting critical-skilled worker acquisition.
The working team intends to soon provide an implementation strategy and accompanying schedule to the Government. The team’s findings will likewise allow the Government to weigh up adhering to the updated EU Single Permit Directive in due course, says the Department of Justice.
The directive’s goal was to create a streamlined application process, culminating in a single permit that serves the dual purpose of authorising both employment rights and residency in the EU. However, as it currently stands, neither Ireland nor Denmark are subject to this directive. In April 2022, the directive was proposed for a revision by the European Commission.