Skilled non-nationals considering taking up the offer of "Harney visas" are being given more encouragement by the Tanaiste with her decision to allow them to bring their spouses and/or children into the Republic after three months working here.
According to the Department of Justice spokesman, the policy was made within the past week and comes into effect immediately.
Workers on "Harney visas" must, however, show they can support their families without social welfare. Ordinarily, holders of working visas must work in the country for one year and have the guarantee of a further year's work before applying to bring their families into the State.
The move is part of Ms Harney's desire to expedite the immigration of desirable workers in key professions targeted by the Department of Justice.
These visas, like the American Morrison visas of the 1980s, are aimed at increasing the numbers of skilled immigrant workers in designated areas.
Those eligible are nurses, information and computing technologies professionals and technicians, architects, construction engineers, quantity surveyors, building surveyors and town planners.
Once offered a job non-nationals living outside the State may present themselves to the nearest Irish embassy or consulate, where they may be given a working visa or working authorisation, usually valid for two years.
Holders of working visas and of work authorisations are allowed to change employers after arrival if they continue to have authorisation to work and reside in the State.
While it is barely three months since the visas came into effect, the policy is already having an impact on the nursing shortage. Some 31 Filipina nurses have already been employed by the Mater Hospital, and a further 19 arrived on Saturday. Twenty more are expected.