Changes to the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations and the Ineligible Categories of Employment Lists for Employment Permits.

Since the 1st of February 2016, a number of changes have been made to Ireland’s Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List.

These changes will be a welcome development for employers and employees falling under these categories.

Highly Skilled Occupations List

The Highly Skilled Occupations List covers employments where there is a shortage of skills, qualifications and knowledge in Ireland.

The following occupations have been added to the Highly Skilled Occupations List since the 1st of February 2016:

  • Material Scientists and Industrial Pharmacists
  • Perfusionists and Gastro Intestinal technologists/physiologists
  • International marketing experts with required domain knowledge specialising in product strategy development and management with technical and product/service knowledge (pharmaceutical, medical devices, Software B2B, SaaS products).

In addition, an explicit reference to ‘analytical development’ has been added to the niche areas under Natural and Science Professionals.

Ineligible Categories of Employment

The Ineligible Categories of Employment cover occupations in respect of which an Employment Permit will not be granted.

The following occupations have been removed from the Ineligible Categories of Employment since the 1st of February 2016.

Where an occupation which has become eligible is subject to a Labour Market Needs Test, this test should not be commenced prior to the occupation’s removal from the Ineligible Categories of Employment (1st February 2016).

  • Paramedics
  • Tourist guides with non-EEA languages
  • Aircraft Maintenance and related trades
  • MIG/TIG welders
  • Computer Numerical Control operatives

For further information on Employment Permits, get in touch with Sinnott Solicitors.