Rabbitte Run

Pat Rabbitte, the leader of the Irish Labour Party, has taken a baby step towards right thinking on immigration by calling for a new work permit system for the Republic.

In Rabbitte's case it's one step forward, two steps back - at the same time as suggesting a new system may be required, he managed to mention two immigrationist shibboleths, workforce diversity and the protection of immigrant labour - but to even hear the call coming from the nearest thing Ireland has to a Left is to be welcomed.

Last October, the Irish Enterprise Minister Michael Martin mooted a similar, though apparently softer, scheme; one would hope that Rabbitte's might have more teeth.