Fragomen senior manager Stephen McCrea and Deirdre Murray

The Employment Permits Bill, which is expected to soon become law, will make a number of changes to how businesses can attract and employ global talent.

Stephen McCrea, senior immigration manager with Fragomen Ireland, said: “With the changes brought about by the Employment Permits Bill, a number of key areas have been updated, bringing multiple employment regulations into one comprehensive bill.

“Consolidating and making flexible years of previous legislation into one clear and concise Act… means the government will be in a place to effectively and quickly respond to changes in the labour market without the need to pass primary legislation to do so.

“The removal of paper-based advertising of roles for the labour market needs test will be a very welcome change — it will be less costly for employers and more impactful in terms of attracting necessary talent.

“The introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit is another welcome development — it will offer a clear pathway for companies in areas like horticulture while balancing the rights and interests of employees in this important sector to the Irish economy.”

The changes in the Employment Permit Bill come as the Irish government has noted the enforcement of immigration compliance in the workplace will be more significant, to ensure adherence to national immigration laws and minimise the illegal employment of foreign nationals.

Non-compliance with employment permits legislation carries a number of penalties, including fines.

“Ireland continues to be an attractive destination both for investment and for foreign talent, and changes such as the ones we are seeing with the Employment Permits Bill are a welcome step in the right direction to ensure Ireland remains competitive and Irish businesses continue to thrive,” Mr McCrea said.

“We recommend any businesses employing foreign talent to check with their immigration services partners to ensure they are fully compliant.”