Many recruitment agents and middlemen supplying low-skilled labour to Ireland under the work- permit system are of dubious reputation, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, was advised recently.
The central role of these agents will be removed, or at least reduced, from next year when workers from new EU member countries will no longer require permits, according to one of Ms Harney's senior officials.
Many migrant workers are obliged to pay fees to overseas recruitment companies, and a group of some 130 Ukrainians recently paid up to $6,000 each in the Ukraine for work permits that turned out to be forgeries.
The Tánaiste's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment issued 40,321 work permits last year for migrant workers from non-EU countries. EU citizens can work here without permits, which are valid for up to a year and can be renewed.
The central role of agents or middlemen in the current system was raised in an official discussion paper presented to Ms Harney and the Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr Frank Fahey, at a recent meeting. The meeting took place in advance of a Cabinet decision on the labour rights in Ireland of migrant workers from new EU member-states from May 2004, when the union is due to be enlarged from 15 to 25 states. The Government decided that citizens of the new member-states, who account for about a third of work permit employees in Ireland, will be able to work here without permits immediately upon accession.
Ireland had been entitled to retain the requirement for work permits for nationals from these countries for a transition period of up to seven years.
The discussion paper prior to the Cabinet decision put options before the Government, including the one finally selected to allow full freedom of movement of workers from the new EU states immediately upon enlargement.
The official said this move would send a strong signal to the new member-states that Ireland intended to show solidarity and promote their integration into the union from the outset.
"This might be of relevance at a later stage if we should need to seek support on various issues from among the newer, smaller states," the document states.
This decision would immediately make it easier for employers to hire citizens of these countries "and should remove or at least reduce the role of many recruitment agents and sundry middlemen, many of whom are of dubious reputation and who have played a central role in supplying labour under the work permit system", the official advised.
"It would also serve to reduce, if not remove, whatever feelings of insecurity personnel from the new member-states might feel because of their status here."
The Government has retained the right to reintroduce restrictions during the seven-year transition period if increased immigration causes a dramatic change in the labour market.
The decision to allow full mobility to new EU citizens puts Ireland in line with the UK, Spain, Denmark and Sweden. The accession countries are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.