The Tanaiste has acknowledged that the Government is divided on the issue of granting the right to work to all asylum-seekers living in the State for six months.
Ms Harney said her party supported such an initiative but had only four deputies in the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats Coalition Government and was therefore in a minority.
The Fianna Fail Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue, yesterday restated the "Government view" in opposition to "blanket clearance for all asylum-seekers to work".
The Ministers' remarks followed calls yesterday by refugee lobby groups, trade unions and businesses for the right to work for all asylum-seekers awaiting a decision on their claims for refugee status for six months. The work permit system allows migrant workers to take up jobs in any sector for a year. This year to date, 15,000 work permits have been granted, compared to 6,000 two years ago.
Ms Harney said asylum applications should be processed within six months, and where that is not done, she favoured their right to work. However she said this would not happen under this Government, as it was divided on the issue.
"Everybody knows my views in relation to the right to work. Last week we received 1,300 applications for work permits. There are many jobs available in the economy, but until the Government revisits the issue, which I do not envisage will happen in the short term, the position agreed in July 1999 stands," she told the Dail.
Meanwhile, PD Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell said the current processing time for asylum applications ranged between 12 and 18 months. She said there was unanimity within the Government that the six-month target for processing all asylum claims must be met by the autumn.
In his statement, Mr O'Donoghue said "the Government is of the view that indiscriminate or blanket clearance for all asylum-seekers to work would make our work permit system more difficult to operate effectively.
"Further, it is inappropriate that the State should put some non-nationals though the process of acquiring visas, work permits, etc., while allowing those who enter claiming asylum a right to work without going through any formalities."
The call for work rights for all asylum-seekers was made in a policy document published yesterday by the Irish Refugee Council and backed by ICTU, IBEC, the Conference of Religious in Ireland and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.
The council's chief executive, Mr Peter O'Mahony, said it was "morally indefensible" for most asylum-seekers to be excluded from the labour market at a time when the country has a huge need for labour.