(1) Subject to any requirement that this Act specifies is to be satisfied in respect of the grant of an employment permit, an employment permit granted under section 8 shall be granted in respect of a purpose specified in subsection (2).
(2) The purposes for which an employment permit may, subject to any requirement referred to in subsection (1), be granted are:
(a) to ensure that appropriately skilled foreign nationals with skills that are required -
(i) in enterprises in an economic sector that is of importance for the economic and social development of the State, and
(ii) in employments that are essential to the development and growth of those enterprises or economic sector,
and that are in critical short supply in the State, are encouraged to become available for employment in the State, in such enterprises and employments and the Minister is satisfied that where such enterprises are unable to recruit such appropriately skilled persons, or there is a shortage of such persons, the i
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