| |
| | Immigration into Ireland: background, policy responses, outlook |
 | | Irelandâs adherence to the European Community in 1973 even led to net in-migration, for the first time in modern history, although this was largely explained by the return of experienced Irish migrants, usually with families, to meet specific skills shortages in the Irish economy (chart 2). |
 | | Ireland thus experienced, within a short space of time, a substantial rise in non-Irish immigration, mostly from other EU countries, and a smaller but significant rise in non-EU immigrants, whether asylum-seekers, illegal immigrants or immigrant workers on short-term work permits. |
 | | While the application must be accompanied by a job offer from an employer in Ireland, holders of working visas and of work authorisations are allowed to change their employers within the same skills category after arrival in Ireland as long as they continue to have authorisation to work and reside in the country. |
| migration.ucc.ie /irelandfirstreport.htm (7442 words) |
|