Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has outlined plans for asylum seekers to be allowed to work if they meet certain criteria.
Under the proposals, asylum seekers will be allowed to work no later than nine months after their application for asylum is lodged if they have not received a decision on their case.
It follows recommendations from an inter-departmental taskforce set up to examine the issue after a Supreme Court judgment in May.
The Supreme Court ruling found that the ban on asylum seekers looking for work was, "in principle", unconstitutional.
The Government says it has decided to opt into the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU).
Under the EU directive applicants for asylum can access the labour market no later than nine months from the date when their application for international protection was lodged, if a first instance decision by the competent authority has not been taken and the delay cannot be attributed to the applicant.
The approval of the Oireachtas is required before the Government can opt in to the directive.
An implementation group will now be set up to oversee the opt-in procedure and arrangements for providing access to sectors of the labour market for eligible applicants.
It is not yet clear what possible restrictions may apply in terms of the employment sectors in which asylum seekers will be allowed to work.
Reacting to the proposals, the CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Brian Killoran said it was a momentous occasion for asylum seekers in Ireland.
However he said the Immigrant Council strongly believed asylum seekers should be granted the right to work at six months
Mr Killoran said the Immigrant Council was seeking clarification as to when asylum seekers may access the right to work, within the maximum nine-month time frame
He said the organisation was also advocating for few, if any, restrictions to the type of work asylum seekers would be allowed to do.
