Richard O'Donoghue Calls for Single Entry Point for Permits, Visas
Richard O'Donoghue responded to parliamentary questions about delays between work permit approvals and visa issuance, calling for a streamlined single entry point and digitalisation. He acknowledged that visas issued by the Department of Justice involve more complex enquiries and can take longer than work permits granted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
He said a single application route would be preferable and agreed that digitalisation will make the process more efficient. He highlighted a mismatch where one department grants permits faster while another issues visas more slowly, creating hold-ups for employers.
He identified the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as the body that grants work permits and the Department of Justice as responsible for issuing visas, noting that the latter requires additional enquiries that can extend processing times.
A deputy had raised examples of businesses losing critical workers, citing mechanics and other trades at risk due to delays. O'Donoghue acknowledged these pressures and the need to streamline the interaction between the two departments.
He said the issue had been discussed that morning at a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce, where the granting of work permits and subsequent visa processes were reviewed.
O'Donoghue reiterated support for a single entry point and said digitalisation will happen to improve efficiency, while also emphasising the inherent complexity of visa processing by the Department of Justice.
Key points
He said a single application route would be preferable and agreed that digitalisation will make the process more efficient. He highlighted a mismatch where one department grants permits faster while another issues visas more slowly, creating hold-ups for employers.
Departments involved
He identified the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as the body that grants work permits and the Department of Justice as responsible for issuing visas, noting that the latter requires additional enquiries that can extend processing times.
Business impact
A deputy had raised examples of businesses losing critical workers, citing mechanics and other trades at risk due to delays. O'Donoghue acknowledged these pressures and the need to streamline the interaction between the two departments.
Stakeholder engagement
He said the issue had been discussed that morning at a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce, where the granting of work permits and subsequent visa processes were reviewed.
Implementation outlook
O'Donoghue reiterated support for a single entry point and said digitalisation will happen to improve efficiency, while also emphasising the inherent complexity of visa processing by the Department of Justice.
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Transcript
Minister, on the 1st of May I gave a question to ask why the cause of the high volume of employment permits applications as a result of delays, that there were refunds. So enterprise trade and employment on one hand we are able to get our permits, but on the other side when we go to justice there is a delay then for visas. So the left hand is doing one thing and the right hand is doing the other and we have massive delays for critical workers. Can we not streamline that one side talks to the other and we streamline these critical workers? I have businesses that are going out of business because they need such as mechanics and many other critical workers. Why can't we streamline this that one side talks to the other, we get the permits then we can't get the visas. Thank you Minister. Thank you very much Deputy and it is an opportunity to mention that because this morning at a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce where we discussed issues in terms of the granting of work permits and then subsequently visas, I agree that it would be preferable if there was a single entry point where people could apply. When it comes to visas being issued by the Department of Justice it is a more complex process because work and enquiries that need to be made in many instances that take longer than the granting of the work permit by the Department of enterprise trade and employment. But I hear what you say and digitalisation will happen and the process will become more efficient.