We understand that the Irish Government works hard to ensure the safety of the Irish Community and that is one of the things we love about Ireland and while this is commendable, there is a large number of Non-EU/EEA Graduates who are somewhat overlooked.

The Irish Goverment has recently done something so wonderful for illegal immigrants by opening a new scheme for their regularisation. However, they continue to refuse permits to Non EU/EEA applicants who have worked so hard to get jobs paying up to the €32,000  requirement which is not easy to obtain because the truth is the Irish Employment System is rigged against Non-EU/EEA Applicants because 80% of Irish Employers would rather employ someone with a Stamp 4 and the only way to obtain a Stamp 4 is to even have the opportunity to get a Stamp 1.

But some of us who are fortunate enough get employed by the 20% of Irish Employers willing to give us a chance and when we get these jobs and are working hard at being law abiding members of the Irish society, by paying taxes and obeying all immigration and employment laws, we get refused Employment Permits on the grounds that our employers did not fulfill the Labour Market Skills Test which 18% of these Employers know nothing about.

We do not wish to be a burden on the Irish Society, we all are working hard to abide by the laws and if the illegal immigrants can be granted such mercy by the Irish government,  then surely that same measure of mercy can be extended to Non-EU/EEA Applicants who have reached the threshold of €32,000. If we have been unable to meet the Labour Market Skills test, then we ask that rather than the government saying No to us, we can be asked to remain on Stamp 1 for an additional 2 years making it 5 years before we can be eligible for a Stamp 4. We are asking that we don't just get denied, but that we are giving a means to keep building our lives here as part of the Irish community and keep being encouraged to be law-abiding. 

Grant us General Permits with a 5 year requirement before being eligible for Stamp 4 when our Employers fail to fulfill the Labour Market Skills Test. Please extend us some measure of the mercy you have extended to the Illegal Immigrants. We are all working hard to keep building the Irish Society. Help us to keep doing that.

This is all we are asking of the Irish Government.

This is all ask of the Minister of the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment.