A Fianna Fáil TD who caused controversy a year ago when he described asylum-seekers as "spongers" and "freeloaders" has called for a clampdown on the issuing of permits to immigrant workers.
Mr Noel O'Flynn said he had no problem with people "who have come in and worked hard and are entitled to be here, if they have come in legally". However, he added: "But the time has come to restrict the number of work permits issued and ensure our own indigenous population has first choice when it comes to jobs that are available in the marketplace."
The Cork-based TD said he and a number of colleagues had raised the issue at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party some months ago.
"What I was saying was now that the economic environment has changed, the Government will have to be more vigilant in terms of jobs that are available and make sure they go to the indigenous working population first."
The work permit system had functioned well up to now and "filled a gap when people were required to fuel the Celtic Tiger", he said.
There was now an obligation, however, on the State training and employment agency, FÁS, "to match the skills requirements with the people on their books".
Mr O'Flynn said he had "grave concerns" that the system was being abused and it had come to his notice that some employers were "stockpiling work permits".
"There are abuses and in fairness they are not being perpetrated by the immigrants who are coming in to work, but we have some unscrupulous employers."
His main concern, he said, was that with unemployment rising again, the number of work permits being issued, likely to be about 40,000 this year, was too high.
Jobs that became available should be offered to people from the particular area first, provided they had the required skills.
"I have no difficulty whatsoever with people who are legally here and who are entitled to be here for the duration of their work permit."
Mr O'Flynn said he might be criticised for his comments, as he had been last January for his remarks about asylum-seekers, but his views on work permits had "nothing whatsoever to do with illegal immigrants".
He intended to pursue the work permits issue at future meetings of the Fianna Fáil party and might also raise it with the Tánaiste, Ms Harney. There were more and more Irish people becoming available to work and if the matter was not addressed, there would be "serious repercussions" for the economy and for "family-living in this country".
Procedures had been tightened and employers were required to demonstrate to FÁS that an Irish person could not be found for a job before a permit was issued, but further measures were needed, he said.
