A Government advisory body has called on the authorities to move away from an "ad-hoc reactionary approach to migration" towards a planned and managed strategy.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) says it is concerned with developments in the migration area, particularly a recent move to reduce the inflow of low-skilled migrant labour.
Under restrictions announced by the authorities this month, employers will not be able to hire overseas workers on work permits in a wide range of low-skilled areas for a three-month period.
A list of occupational categories which will remain off limits for work permits until June 30th is based on an assessment by FÁS and Tánaiste's Ms Harney's Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment that there are sufficient domestic personnel available to fill vacancies in these areas.
The excluded areas include all clerical and administrative positions, operator and production staff, general labourers and builders, sales staff, reception and bar staff, childcare workers, transport staff, including drivers, and craft workers, including carpenters, joiners and plumbers.
The NCCRI said it had consulted with various interested parties, who were gravely concerned about the developments.
"It has been highlighted that the new rules relating to work permits are based on an inaccurate analysis of the current labour situation in Ireland which focuses in on FÁS's current register and does not take into account the situation of long-term unemployed who may not be in a position to work for various reasons," said its acting director, Mr Kensika Monshengwo.
Mr Monshengwo said the Government invited migrant workers, "but real people with needs and feelings came instead. The Government has called for migrant workers to fill positions and to contribute positively to our economy. What it must not forget is that migrant workers are not merely economic entities but individuals with rights and social and economic needs."
Mr Monshengwo urged the Government to "move away from an ad-hoc reactionary approach to migration and towards a planned and managed migration strategy that does not have the end result of treating migrants as dispensable commodities".
The Migrant Information Centre also criticised the recent restrictions, saying the immigration process could be "turned on and off as if people were disposable commodities".
Ms Siobhan O'Donoghue from the centre said the changes should be reversed, and were introduced without consultation or dialogue with local labour and business interests.