The prospect of unemployment in Ireland has led to a jump in Irish overstayers in Australia.

For the first time in almost two decades, the number of Irish nationals overstaying their Australian visas has increased sharply.

At the end of June 2009, there were fewer than 450 Irish ‘illegals’. The most recent figure is 1,075 and growing.

There are both push and pull factors. Ireland’s economic woes and Australia’s buoyant jobs market are undoubtedly influencing the upsurge.

Faced with the prospect of returning to an unemployment rate of almost 15 per cent and mounting public debt (which will be the burden of Irish taxpayers for years to come) hundreds of young Irish are deciding to wing it by overstaying.

Similarly, many young Irish illegals continue to work and earn a good wage.

Last week, we spoke to two young Irishmen who are in this situation.

Having run out of visa options, they have resolved to kick the can down the road in the hope that something will miraculously occur to make them legal again.

They understand that if the Department of Immigration catches up with them, they will be deported. They have begun to alter their behaviour accordingly. They go out less. They avoid police. They keep their heads down.

But there are consequences for this course of action beyond the personal ignominy of a life in the shadows – the omnipresent threat of possible incarceration in a detention centre followed by a humiliating deportation.

The Australian Government watches the behaviour of visa holders closely. Changes in trends are identified and they inform immigration policy. If the proportional number of Irish illegals continues to rise, it may lead to a reassessment of Ireland, currently deemed low-risk for visa purposes, as a source of visitors and temporary residents.

In other words, future Irish applicants may find it more difficult to get a visa.

In a worst case scenario, it could lead to a re-evaluation, for example, of the Working Holiday Scheme which is only available – on a reciprocal basis – to the citizens of 20 countries.

Those who overstay may argue that they are working and paying taxes and this is often the case, unbeknownst to their employers.

But the sage advice is to stay legal. As soon as your visa lapses, the challenge of getting legal again becomes significantly more difficult.

There are many possible avenues to extending your time in Australia legally but you need to be organised and plan ahead.

Do not ignore the problem until the last minute. You will run out of time and options. Look at student visas. It may cost you money but you will be able to work, legally, and there are options to extend.

Look at regional visas. There are sponsorship opportunities beyond the city limits that can lead to permanent residency.

Look at management companies. If your employer is happy to keep you on but less willing to sponsor you, there are companies that can provide that visa link.

Finding a sponsor remains a gilt-edged path to residency and we are aware that some unscrupulous employers will lead their staff on about an intention to sort out their visa.

But there is no recourse for you if your employer suddenly does not want to discuss the issue and your visa is running out.

Looking at skilled immigration more broadly however, there are positive changes afoot, from an Irish perspective.

The changes to the points test and the skilled programme, which come into effect on July 1, should make it easier for Irish nationals to get visas.

The undeclared intention of the changes is to expand the skilled programme and favour those with good English-language skills.

Major Australian companies are starting to look to Ireland to fill skilled vacancies. They know that Ireland has an increasing number of skilled out-of-workers.

Next month, the West Australian Government will lead a jobs mission to Ireland and the UK seeking to fill a range of vacancies. This is excellent news for those in Ireland looking for an exit strategy.

Australia looks set to be the major beneficiary of Ireland’s woes. The Australian Government knows that Irish nationals make good immigrants. They integrate easily, they are highly-educated, they are English-speaking, they share values and heritage with mainstream Australia and fit comfortably into the multicultural mix.

Perhaps now is the ideal time for a special visa deal between the two countries.

Australians find it difficult to get work visas — beyond the reciprocal working holiday visa — in Ireland. Irish nationals are desperate to extend their stay in Australia.

Could a new visa deal between the countries — taking into account the unique prevailing circumstances — be the answer?

We are aware that Canada has recently made special visa provisions for Irish nationals — a second year on the Working Holiday Agreement and also the chance to bring in dependents. Concessions have also been secured for permanent residency applicants from Ireland.

The Canadian immigration minister is Jason Kenney, whose family hails from Roscommon.

This is the real global Irish network at work: practical visa opportunities for Irish nationals who would be better off working abroad than being unemployed at home.

Why could a similar deal not work here?

Perhaps this should be priority number one for the new ambassador — whoever that may be — when he or she arrives in August or September.

Australia’s immigration policy now openly discriminates on the basis of skills and English language proficiency. Ireland has skills, Australia needs skills. There is a deal to be done.