A new credit card-sized identity and residency card for non-nationals which would contain biometric information is being examined by senior Government officials involved in drafting new immigration laws.
It is one of a number of measures likely to form part of an overhaul of the immigration system designed to cope with significant increases in the volume of people seeking to live and work here.
The new residence permit system would be aimed at non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in Ireland and would show the holder's status, contain biometric data - such as fingerprints - and would be needed to gain access to public services.
A new category of long-term resident is also being considered for non-nationals resident in the State for more than five years. At present the only secure long-term status a non-EEA national can obtain is by way of naturalisation, which may involve breaking links with a person's country of origin.
The entitlements of people with the new long-term resident status would be greater than those of temporary residents and would be similar to those given to Irish citizens.
The five-year period for acquisition of this status would not include time where a person has been admitted for the purposes of study or has been an asylum seeker.
The measures are being considered as part of an Immigration and Residence Bill, due to be published by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell in the coming months.
Current immigration laws are considered inadequate by senior officials in dealing with high levels of projected migration to Ireland over the coming years.
The new legislation would allow for a complete replacement of existing law which would draw both from some existing measures and new proposals. The Enterprise Strategy Group report of last year estimates the number of workers needed in Ireland over the next five years could be in the region of 420,000. A large proportion would be filled through immigration.
The asylum applications process also faces significant change. Plans to speed up the processing of asylum seekers' applications by establishing a single procedure, instead of processing requests through several different agencies, are likely to be introduced.
The present system involves the review of an asylum application by the independent Refugee Applications Commissioners. A negative decision may be appealed to the independent Refugee Appeals Tribunal. If there is a further negative decision, there may be another detailed examination of the case.
One of the most pointed criticisms of the immigration system to date has been the lack of clear and transparent processes regarding decisions made on applications for family reunification and visas.
Latest proposals would see the criteria for family reunification, temporary and permanent migration being made publicly available.
While family reunification mainly involves spouses and dependent children, non-marital relationships would also be considered for reunification, in line with Irish equality law. There may be consideration of circumstances such as the death of the head of a household, marriage breakdown and domestic violence in these decisions.
A key feature of the new Bill is likely to be the provision for statements of immigration policy, made by the Minister, which would guide the day-to-day operation of the Act by immigration officers.
A new immigration officers' manual, setting out clear instructions for staff working in the immigration area, would be issued.
Plans for a pre-clearance system for entry to the workforce or long-term migration by nationalities who normally do not require a visa for a short visit are also under consideration.
