Continuous Reporting System on Migration (SOPEMI), Report for Ireland for 2000

The most significant developments described in this document relate to the continuation of the net migratory inflow at a relatively high level and, within this wider context, a dramatic rise in recent years in the number of non-EU nationals taking up employment under the existing Work Permit System. It is also evident from the annual population and migration estimates that the numbers of EU citizens (other than UK nationals) coming to work in Ireland has increased significantly in recent years, but the size of this inflow cannot be assessed to the same degree of accuracy. The number of asylum seekers entering the country has also continued to increase. Policy initiatives and issues related to these developments are discussed in Sections VI and VII.