Structures must be put in place to cope with a significantly higher number of visa applications for workers coming from overseas (non-EU countries) after the Brexit, according to leading Global visa specialists, VisaFirst.com.
Experts at VisaFirst.com say the current Irish work permit application process is efficient and easy for employers to navigate, particularly since the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation updated their electronic system for applications, but that a surge could easily lead to significant backlogs, which could deter UK-based employers that looking at more than one alternative location.
Latest figures from the Department show a 31% growth in the number of Irish work permits granted in the first 10 months of this year alone
Experts at www.visafirst.com warn that there are "a myriad of issues" that we will need to deal with in Ireland as the UK leaves the EU – there will be opportunities that can and should be capitalised on, but it will take a degree of cohesive thinking and forward planning.
An example of this lies in the fact that there’s already talk of several businesses possibly relocating their operations to Ireland – particularly in the financial services and banking sector – this would be a welcome development of course, but it could compound a skills issue we already face.
Manager at www.visafirst.com, Edwina Shanahan commented, "Since the Irish economy has been kick-started back into action, Irish businesses in certain sectors have experienced difficulty in sourcing certain skills for their business from the skills pool here in Ireland. They have had to look further afield to attract highly skilled employees for their operations."
She added, "While there are processes and procedures in place to allow these skills gaps to be filled, we should consider how a greater influx of businesses from the UK might mean a higher demand for Irish work permits for overseas workers etc. and how this might be dealt with efficiently and effectively."
Source: www.businessworld.ie