The construction industry has called on the Government to appoint an independent regulator to monitor agencies bringing foreign workers to Ireland.
The Construction Industry Federation said while the arrangements for dealing with work permits and visas had improved a fair and transparent overview is needed if issues of racism and discrimination are to be avoided.
Over the five remaining years of the National Development Plan the industry is expected to need 80,000 workers, some 20,000 of which will most likely come from abroad.
The federation’s director Mr Peter McCabe said: "With the further expansion of the industry we don’t want to see some of the practices that have emerged in other industries."
Mr McCabe said: "We must make sure that people are treated equally and that they comply with registered agreements."
He also claimed a regulator was needed to ensure Irish contractors were not put at a disadvantage by workers employed by foreign contractors.
