5. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cause of the high volume of refunds of employment permit applications and the resultant processing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21410/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I am submitting this question on behalf of Independent Ireland. What is the cause of the high volume of refunds in employment permit applications, which are resulting in processing delays?

Sentiment score: 0.00

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am delighted that the new portal is finally up and running. We have a bigger problem with this. The processing of permits is starting to work but there is not much point having a permit if people cannot get the visa with it and the Department is not speaking. Many people who are getting permits are not getting the visas. It is as if one Department is not talking to the other. While the Minister has excelled on the permit side the Department on the other side is not getting the visas through. We have had a lot of cases this week alone, the same as the cases that have been going on over the last three or four months, waiting for the visas. I compliment the Minister on the permit side, but we need to make sure the permits are followed with visas. They need to be in tandem to make sure that the people who want to come into this country legitimately can get here with their permits to get into employment and they also have the visas at the same time.

Sentiment score: 0.17

I look forward to that. This week I have seen permits that came through and the visas came to us within two days of those. However, others go back two and three months. I am looking forward to this new system to see if it will work in tandem. Many companies are waiting for permits at the moment. Many people who have been working in companies here for a couple of years and want their families to come here are having problems getting visas for their families. I know of one person who has been working here for four years. His wife is a chemist and she cannot get in here for some unknown reason. Many chefs and other people with skills are working in the hospitality sector. They want their families to come here. They have the accommodation, but they cannot bring them here. We should do whatever we can to fast-track it. I acknowledge the new portal the Minister of State mentioned. Let us hope that it can speed things up even more.

Sentiment score: 0.01