AmCham White Paper; Ireland's Immigration Pathways - Driving Competitiveness and Economic Growth

It is vital for Ireland’s continued growth and competitiveness that companies based in Ireland have access to the best international talent. Current delays in the Irish migration system, driven by complexity of processes, are resulting in assignments being cancelled, key project deadlines being missed, and companies choosing to expand operations in other jurisdictions rather than in Ireland, thereby undermining the positive progress made in other streamlined areas of the migration system. It is important to address these issues to protect Ireland’s position as the destination of choice for FDI and growth.

Currently, workers accepting a job in Ireland from abroad must undergo a complex system of multiple applications and approvals, under several Government Departments, to begin their work in Ireland. By reducing the administrative burden and streamlining the migration process, while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and best-practice, Ireland can harness greater levels of international talent.

The commitments made within the Programme for Government 2025 to develop a migration system that supports fast and streamlined processing, as well as prioritising a skill-based migration system to target sectors, and the expansion of eligible roles for Employment Permits, are welcome developments. It is important that timelines for such changes are clearly defined and that implementation reviews are undertaken and feedback from industry is sought as part of wider stakeholder engagement, in a coordinated manner across Government Departments.

Clarity and certainty within the migration process is of critical importance for companies to forecast employment growth, plan investment, and implement expansion plans. By improving Ireland’s migration system, companies can enhance their ability to forecast future investment in Ireland.

Developing a simplified process that unifies the IRP card with Employment Permit, and Entry Visa where necessary, as in the Netherlands and Germany; removes the need for multiple ‘right to work’ checks; provides for a single application process (inclusive of Entry Visa); and provides clear timelines for application processing; would significantly improve the individual/employer experience, ease access to service and promote efficiency through reducing talent acquisition bottlenecks.

Read AmCham's White Paper, 'Ireland's Immigration Pathways - Driving Competitiveness and Economic Growth Here'.