We want Department of Business Enterprises and Innovation Ireland to kindly consider Critical skill work Permit to Overseas General Nurses.

All the nurses, who are working in Ireland, must be registered with NMBI (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland), and there are certain standards and procedures to be followed to achieve the registration. The NMBI asses the curriculum of Overseas nurses as per their standards, validate the IELTS score, and if those are acceptable, proceed for the registration. Both Graduate nurses and General nursing Diploma holders are receiving the same registration to practice in the country, and they do the same nursing job as well as they earn the same remuneration.

Unfortunately, the Overseas General Nurses allowed for General Work Permit instead of Critical skill work permit. Due to this, the overseas nurses facing enormous difficulties, such as family cannot be joined immediately, spouse cannot work, have to wait five years to get long term resident permit etc..  As per the Employment permit (Amendment) regulation 2019, Nursing and Midwifery professionals are categorized as “The employment in respect of which there is a shortage in respect of qualifications, experience or skills which are required for the proper functioning of the economy”

Since all nurses are doing the same employment and earning the same salary, they should come under same skill set and allowed for equal benefits from the government.

In light of these facts, we hereby petition to the Irish Department of Business, Enterprises and Innovations, and Department of Justice and equality to kindly consider Overseas General nurses to grand Critical skill work Permit.