Tánaiste intervenes to avoid delays in issuing working visas; great hope for Indian nurses waiting for a visa to Ireland
DUBLIN: Good news for doctors and nurses waiting for a visa to Ireland. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar is intervening to avoid delays in issuing working visas to health workers.
Mr. Varadkar told the Dáil he was unaware of the serious delays in processing working visa applications. Varadkar said the matter would be discussed with the Secretary General immediately and the necessary solution would be worked out immediately.
RCSI had to cancel examinations for hundreds of nurses due to delays in processing atypical working visa applications. But the Tánaiste said the delay had not been brought to his attention by the health minister or the HSE.
Visa applications need to be processed properly but unnecessary delays will be avoided, Varadkar said.
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty told Dáil that visa processing, which previously took two days, is now taking up to three months. Mr. Doherty also pointed out that this delay was preventing the hiring of health care staff. “If it wasn’t for the department dragging their heels we could have 200 additional nurses in Ireland by the end of the month,” Mr Doherty said.
Nearly 7,000 health care frontline workers are on leave. Hospitals are in a precarious position to deal with the rising number of COVID-19 cases and patients. The Sinn Féin spokesman said it was having a significant effect on healthcare systems.
Hundreds of Indian nurses are among those waiting for an atypical work permit. As the decision letter of many of them is about to expire, delays in the processing period of atypical work permits will cause many of them to lose their opportunity to move to Ireland. The Health Advisory Council has indicated that the prevalence of COVID-19 in Ireland is declining significantly, except among the elderly. This could lead to intensification of government action, including the issuance of visas.
Call for Ireland
In addition, 1,500 people have not yet been deployed, including doctors, nurses and other staff who are ready to work through the Call for Ireland initiative. Mr. Varadkar added that there has been a shortage of people with the appropriate qualifications, even though a large number of people were available through the Call for Ireland initiative.
Honorarium will be considered for volunteers at testing centres
Leo Varadkar said the volunteers working in the testing centers are being considered for some form of honorarium. There are thousands of volunteers working in testing centers. Mr. Varadkar added that their contribution should be properly acknowledged.
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