SIPTU representatives have noted the clarification issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, yesterday (Thursday, 20th December), concerning the interim measures introduced to deal with the processing backlog for work permits for non-European Economic Area (EEA) nursing staff. SIPTU Organiser, John McCamley said: “This backlog applies to the processing of the Stamp 4 letter of support for work permits for non-EAA nursing staff. If the revised interim measures are followed, it would seem that holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits will no longer be faced with being removed from their jobs due to delays in processing documentation.” He added: “The majority of SIPTU nursing members working in the Mater Hospital in Dublin have now received notification that their Stamp 4 letters of support have been processed. We are calling for the revised criteria to be highlighted to the relevant employers, so nurses, or other workers in critical areas, do not face a situation of being removed from their employment due to work permit processing delays.”