The Tanaiste, Ms Mary Harney has announced new restrictions on the recruitment of staff from outside Europe.
The new rules on work permits will specify that only Irish or EU member state citizens can be offered particular types of jobs.
Jobs which come under the restrictions will include hotel reception, child-care, construction, clerical and administrative, shop assistant, bus and truck driving and some skilled craft positions.
The move has come in for criticism from the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, which says it is sceptical that FAS will be able to deliver adequate numbers of staff under the new rules.
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The new rules will come into effect tomorrow.