The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) has criticised two Fianna Fáil TDs after their call on the Government to limit the issuing of work permits to foreign workers from outside the EU.
ICI Chief Executive Denise Charlton said the TDs should be careful to avoid laying the blame for Ireland’s current economic status on migrants.
Cork East Fianna Fáil Td Ned O’Keeffe said yesterday he supports his colleague Noel O’Flynn in his call to review the issuing of work permits and said: “We must look after our own - we have to give priority to Irish workers and Irish jobs”.
Ms Charlton said that despite the high rate of unemployment “attacking migrant workers will not create a single job”.
Many migrants living in Ireland now call Ireland home and the TDs’ comments may cause tension and resentment against those with a right to live and work here and who valuably contribute to society, Ms Charlton added.
She said that statistics show the number of permits being issued had fallen, as had the number of permits being issued.
“Are we to tell Government ministers that while they are lobbying foreign entrepreneurs and business people to invest many millions of euros in Ireland that they should tell these potential investors not to consider sending any highly skilled workers or executives here, as any jobs created by their investment are for Irish people only?” Ms Charlton asked.
The ICI believes denying foreign migrant workers jobs in favour of Irish workers will not create any jobs and say “we will not create jobs for ‘our own’ that way”.