Vol. 538 No. 1
75 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the languages in which application forms for work permits and explanatory documents setting out the essential elements of Irish employment rights legislation and protection for workers are now available; the way in which it is intended to distribute these documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17232/01]
Only an employer who has an identifiable job vacancy can apply for a work permit to employ a non-EEA national. The EEA comprises member states of the European Union together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The completion of application forms in languages other than English is not envisaged.
An information leaflet setting out the essential employment rights of all workers in this country has recently been translated into eight different languages as follows: Russian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese and Chinese. Copies of these translations will be available on request from my Department as well as being placed on the Department's website. It is also intended to supply copies to our embassies abroad.
