The Government has approved measures to end the disarray in asylum procedures and make it easier for workers from outside the EU to come here to alleviate labour shortages.
However, while the plans, almost all of which had been flagged in recent weeks, are intended to end the political controversy on the subject, they were criticised by the Opposition.
Fine Gael and Labour said the policy "shambles" condemned last month by the Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, would continue.
While the new asylum measures are likely to lead to a more efficient process, the immigration plans are based entirely on the needs of the economy, with no humanitarian aspect to them. The separate measures on immigration and asylum were announced last night by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
Details of the immigrant work visas scheme are to be presented to the Government for approval by the end of February. No quota has been set for immigrants under the new programme, but officials expect the numbers under the new scheme to be little higher than the 6,000 per annum coming under the existing work permits scheme.
The new programme is to be driven entirely by the needs of employers for particular categories of workers, and work visas will be issued for periods of 12 months or less, although they can be renewed.
The majority of non-EU nationals who get work visas are likely to be taking up low-skilled low-paid jobs, according to the Government's figures. In 1998 the majority of work permits were issued for jobs in services and catering for which it was difficult to find Irish workers.
IBEC told the Government recently there are up to 50,000 job vacancies in the State. The employers' organisation also believes that when the infrastructural projects detailed in the National Development Plan get under way, there will be significant shortages of skilled and unskilled construction workers.
Meanwhile identification letters will be sent within days to the 2,100 asylum-seekers eligible to work in Ireland. These can be shown to potential employers who will then be able to employ them immediately before applying formally for a work permit.
This will end the cumbersome procedure which has ensured that just 100 of the 2,100 have so far taken up employment.
Mr O'Donoghue announced a number of other measures to streamline the asylum procedures and end the lengthy queues outside the "one stop shop" for asylum seekers in Dublin's Lower Mount Street that caused the recent controversy.
He confirmed that the Government would establish a separate immigration agency under the aegis of the Department of Justice to handle all immigration matters including asylum. He confirmed that 120 additional staff had been sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, bringing the total dealing with asylum and related issues to 300.
A series of reception centres will be established to house new arrivals for up to two weeks while their applications are being processed. The Office of Public Works has already identified one suitable building in Dublin that could house 100 asylum-seekers, he said. However, he warned that the planning process could delay the establishment of such centres.
Health screening and other services would be provided, before asylum-seekers left these centres for accommodation elsewhere. Some 8,500 private bed spaces have been identified and the Office of Public Works is also looking at unused State property with a view to providing longer-term accommodation.
Mr O'Donoghue also confirmed that a system of "direct provision" for asylum applicants whereby they would get vouchers in place of welfare payments would be finalised and considered by the Government within three months. He also repeated his plan to introduce fingerprinting of such applicants "which is fully in line with anti-abuse measures applying in other jurisdictions".
Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, said last night the new proposals were "vague and aspirational" as they did not spell out specific targets such as a commitment that all asylum applications would be processed within six months of receipt. The Labour Party justice spokesman, Mr Brendan Howlin, dismissed the announcement as "the usual waffle" and maintained the "asylum shambles" would continue.