Romanians based in Ireland yesterday called on the Government to lift visa and work permit requirements which prevent them from working freely here.
At a function to celebrate their country's national holiday in Dublin, Romanians expressed frustration at the "discrimination" they will continue to face once Romania joins the EU next January.
Following a Cabinet decision in October, the Government decided to continue imposing work and visa restrictions on citizens from Romania and Bulgaria once they join the EU. The Government did not apply these restrictions to the 10 central and eastern European states which joined the EU in May 2004.
Vasile Ungureanu, chairman of Romanian Society of Ireland, said the celebrations organised for yesterday - which included traditional folk dancing and singing - were overshadowed by the Government's decision.
"Romanians here do not understand why their friends and family cannot work freely here. We are already integrated into Ireland, we are making a contribution and paying taxes. It's difficult to understand why the Government is discriminating against us," Mr Ungureanu said.
Two representative groups of the Romanian community here - the Romanian Community of Ireland and the Romanian Society of Ireland - have distributed a strongly-worded letter and a memorandum of opposition to the restrictions to members of the Oireachtas.
It says: "Ireland is applauded for its work in campaigning against discrimination in EU in so many areas. Now it is found to have discriminated against, and to continue to discriminate against, Romanian nationals through the preferential and discriminatory policies which are denying Romania and its nationals their inherited rights as members of the EU," it said.
The memorandum urges the Government to abolish visa and work-permit requirements, the registration card and fee and end discrimination against Romanians as of January 1st, 2007.
The Romanian Society of Ireland estimates there are some 25,000 Romanians here, but official statistics suggest the number is less than half this.