The Green Party today said it will give asylum-seekers work permits upon entry to the country should it hold the balance of power after the next general election.
Announcing economic policies designed to influence the next government, the party has said it intends to "bring balance" to Ireland's economic growth via taxation and social welfare reforms.
Councillor Dan Boyle told ireland.comtoday the aim of the party's proposals are "for people to be treated equally".
The proposal to allocate six-month work permits to asylum seekers would be beneficial to the economy on two levels he claimed.
Currently, social welfare payments to asylum seekers amounts to a minimum of £250,000 per week, Cllr Boyle said, but this would be dramatically reduced should the Green Party's provisions be put in place to allow them seek employment.
He added the time-limit of the permits would also encourage the Government to process applications for asylum more quickly and decide who may stay and who must leave the country.
Mr James Stapleton, spokesman for the Irish Refugee Council said the organisation "strongly" welcomed the proposal which is one of the key issues the council is currently seeking.
He said asylum seekers are being punished with "forced unemployment" by the Government's failure to process applications quickly. "Some people have been here for 18 months and are not allowed to work", he said.
The Green Party today also announced its intentions to address the current labour shortage by providing incentives for people of retirement age to rejoin the work force. People aged between 65 and 70 years-of-age would have the option of working 20 hours per week - tax-free - "if they want to", said Cllr Boyle.
Two new tax rates of 10 and 33 per cent are envisaged by the party and child-care payments would see an increase to £200 per child per month.