The Government has announced new legislation to allow workers from accession states in the enlarged European Union full access to the Irish labour market.
This means immigrants from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia will no longer require permits to work in Ireland once they join the EU in May 2004.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, said the necessary legislation would be put in place by April 16th, which is the date these eight states sign their accession treaties.
Cypriots and Maltese will automatically be allowed to work in Ireland without the need for further legislation.
Currently, 35 per cent of all work permits in Ireland are held by citizens of these ten states.
Under the Treaty of Accession, EU member-states were given the option of restricting access to workers from the accession states for up to seven years, to 2009. Ireland, in waiving this option, joins such countries as Britain, Spain, Denmark and Sweden.
"Despite a softening in the market in the recent past, there will still be a requirement to supplement our indigenous labour and skills pool," Ms Harney said.
She added the Employment Permits Bill (2003) will put in place a mechanism whereby employment permits can be re-introduced if the Irish labour market experiences "serious shocks" after EU enlargement.
The Bill also sets out the penalties for employers and employees for breaking the law. These range from €3,000 and/or 12 months in prison for summary convictions to €250,000 and/or ten years in jail for conviction on indictment.