The Green Party has called for an annual immigration quota, a type of "green card" system to determine who can come to Ireland and the issuing of work permits directly to employees. Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent, reports.
Publishing a policy document on immigration yesterday, the party's justice spokesman, Ciaran Cuffe TD, said the integration of immigrants into Irish society was "essential for the future success of this country".
The number of non-EU nationals working in Ireland had risen from 6,000 in 1999 to 50,000 in 2003, he said. More than 100,000 people from new EU member states had taken up employment in Ireland since EU enlargement in May 2004.
"It is clear from these figures that steps must be taken immediately to ensure that Ireland puts in place an organised and efficient immigration system," he added.
Cllr Deirdre de Burca, who was involved in drawing up the policy document, said work permits must be put in the hands of foreign employees, and not their employers.
The recently published Employment Permits Bill was "a small step in the right direction" but it still placed too much control in the hands of employers. It would continue to make an employee who wished to change jobs reliant on a new employer to secure a work permit.
Mr Cuffe also said there should be more labour inspectors to monitor the treatment of migrant workers. "We have more people checking dog licences than labour inspectors," he said.
A South African immigrant worker, Patrick Maphoso, said exploitation of foreign workers was widespread in Ireland.
He knew of people working for €400 a month who got just one day off every fortnight. "Most exploitation takes place in family homes where nobody sees," he said.
He called on the Government to remove control over work permits from employers and to give it to employees. He also said Irish society should be educated to understand that migrant workers were not a threat.
"Some will go back to their countries, others will stay here. I don't see them posing any threat to Irish society. In South Africa I know Irish people who want to return to Ireland and others who regard South Africa as their own country. It is the same with us."
He also said the perception that immigrants were flooding into a reluctant Ireland needed to be challenged.
He was here, he said, "because Irish employers went out there [ South Africa] to recruit us. People think they are being overwhelmed by all of these people. But they came to my country and asked me to come."
The Green Party proposals include a points system where people with the skills most needed in Ireland would be given higher points and chosen first to get a visa.
Other less skilled workers would be chosen as part of a lottery-based green card system such as applies in the United States.