Recent policy responses to irregular immigration have focused on students and migrant workers. Non-EEA students in Ireland may work without a work permit for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time during holidays. There is a concern that this system is being abused in that students are working for longer than the permitted hours and some may not be studying at all. In 2004 restrictions were introduced designed to counteract bogus English language schools providing a front for illegal labour migration. Since then only students who are pursuing courses that are of at least one year's duration and which lead to a "recognised qualification" as approved by the Department of Education and Science may enter the Irish labour market. The issue has not been resolved fully and in the future it is likely that a work permit requirement will be placed on students who wish to work while studying.
Exploitation of migrant workers is an ongoing concern. During 2005 and 2006 in particular there were concerns that poorly paid migrant workers were displacing Irish workers. Two high-profile cases involving the companies GAMA and Irish Ferries provoked heated public debate and a resulting tightening of standards.
Official data on the scale of trafficking to Ireland does not exist however there have been a number of important recent developments in relation to this issue. In June 2008 the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 was enacted. This was the first dedicated piece of anti-human trafficking legislation in the State since the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. In addition a National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking was published in 2009.
