The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has condemned unofficial action by the Dublin Alliance of General Construction Operatives planned for today to protest at the increasing use of agency workers.

The federation said the action was "totally unnecessary and unjustified".

A CIF spokesman said talks had been scheduled for last Monday with SIPTU, to which most alliance members were affiliated, to discuss the issue of agency workers.

These had to be cancelled because of the unofficial action. The CIF remains available for talks.

Referring to the successful bid by Gamma Construction, a Turkish company, for the new 340 megawatt power station at Huntstown, Co Dublin, the CIF said it recognised that a significant number of overseas contractors would be needed to conduct infrastructural and other projects in Ireland over the next six years.

Many of these were doing so in joint ventures with Irish contractors.

The CIF would expect all overseas firms to abide by the Irish agreements on pay and conditions for construction workers.