The Government has decided to issue visas on a limited basis to people from less developed countries and other non-EU countries to enable them to take up "unfilled employment opportunities" here.
The "precise methodology" to apply to these new arrangements will be agreed by an interdepartmental committee on immigration matters which will reconvene in September, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The announcement was made in conjunction with Government proposals to improve the plight of asylum-seekers by allowing some of them to work while waiting for their applications to be processed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The move comes as industry and the Government address ways to fill the acute shortages in the labour market which are beginning to emerge in certain sectors of the booming economy.
A report published tomorrow by the Irish Software Association will recommend proposals to government to ensure the sector can keep up with the rapid growth it is experiencing.
Responding to the Government's latest move, ISA's chairman, Mr Gerry Jones, said: "We believe that any measure taken to increase supply of labour where there is a shortage is a good thing.
Whether that comes from a domestic source or from inward movement of people, be they EU nationals or non-EU nationals, or returning immigrants, we view that as a positive development."
FAS is touring European cities trying to encourage Irish emigrants and EU nationals to take up employment opportunities here. It has identified several areas of skill shortages in its recruitment brochure.
The requirements come from the software, electronics, teleser vices, financial services, construction and tourism industries. The employers include the bigger names from each sector; ICL, Compaq, Iona Technologies, Hewlett Packard, Gateway, AIB, Bank of Ireland and other major banking institutions.
At present, work permits are required for persons holding passports from countries outside the European economic area, which is the EU, plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, which issues such permits for periods of one month to a maximum of a year, has cleared an increasing volume over the last three years.
The majority now comes from the information technology sector.
In 1998, 5,700 people were issued with work permits, 4,400 in 1997 and 3,700 in 1996. Around 20 per cent of these applications are renewals.
At present an employer who is unable to fill a vacancy from within the existing workforce can then go outside the EEA to fill that position. The employer must demonstrate that he has attempted to fill the position from within the existing work force before a permit will be issued.
