Details of new rules for automatic work permits for spouses of skilled non-nationals were announced today by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney.
The proposals will entitle the spouses of more than 10,000 skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area to work here, including working in non-skilled sectors.
Currently, spouses are allowed to live in the State but have no automatic right to work.
The move was immediately welcomed by the Irish Nurses Organisation, which had lobbied Government to introduce the move on behalf of the 5,000 Filipino nurses working in the Irish Health Sector.
According to Mr Liam Doran, INO General Secretary, the move "is long overdue and should assist in retaining some of the overseas nurses". The INO claimed the existing laws made it difficult to retain staff because other countries, including Britain allow their spouses to work.
The scheme will only be open to the spouses of skilled personnel employed via a fast-track "work visa" scheme in the healthcare, construction, IT and research and development sectors.
Under this scheme spouses will now be entitled to seek work in the broad retail industry and in areas like child-minding, sectors that were previously off limits.
The Tánaiste hopes to introduce the new measures by the end of March.
Aside from healthcare, the next biggest employer of skilled non-EU nationals is the IT sector with a reported 3,000 people working under fast-track visas. Approximately 1,200 work in the construction sector as architects or engineers.
Ms Harney said the "important role these workers play in our economy must be recognised."
"We must ensure that we have in place mechanisms to attract and retain these workers particularly in a global environment which has now become not just competitive for goods and services but also for the people who contribute to their delivery," she said.