A large majority want to reintroduce work permits for workers from the new EU member states, and a similar majority believe there are already enough or too many foreign workers here, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll. Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent reports
Most voters see the presence of foreign workers here as good for the Irish economy and society.
However, majorities also see their presence as making it harder for Irish people to get jobs and believe it is pushing down pay and working conditions here.
An overwhelming majority - 78 per cent - believe people from the central and east European states that joined the EU in 2004 should now be required to apply for and receive work permits before coming here to work. Just 17 per cent believe they should not and 5 per cent have no opinion.
Support for a work-permit regime is consistent across all age groups, social groups and regions, with the exception of Progressive Democrat supporters. Among them a much lower 56 per cent want a work-permit regime for east and central European EU workers, 40 per cent do not and 4 per cent have no opinion.
The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State last Monday and Tuesday.
Just 23 per cent believe more foreign workers should be allowed come here, 41 per cent think there are now enough here and no more should be admitted, and 29 per cent believe there are too many foreign workers here and that steps should be taken to reduce their number. Some 7 per cent gave no opinion.
There is a significantly higher desire for restrictions on foreign workers among the less well-of than the better-off. In the better-off ABC1 group, 30 per cent believe more foreign workers should be allowed come here, 41 per cent that there are now enough here and that no more should be permitted, and 20 per cent that there are too many and that steps should be taken to reduce their number. Some 10 per cent gave no opinion.
Among the less well-off C2DE group, just 19 per cent thought more foreign workers should be allowed come here, 41 per cent that there were enough and no more should be permitted, and 35 per cent that there were too many and steps should be taken to reduce their number, with 4 per cent giving no opinion.
The C2DE group is also the strongest backer of work permits for new EU members. Some 81 per cent of this group favour it, just 15 per cent want continued unrestricted access and 4 per cent have no opinion. Among the better-off, 74 per cent favour work permits, 20 per cent continued unrestricted access and 6 per cent have no opinion. Among farmers, 78 per cent favour work permits, 16 per cent unrestricted access, and 6 per cent have no opinion.