This time the issue is the abuse by certain unscrupulous employers of immigrant labour.

Today Ireland is a far more affluent country and its recent economic success has been underpinned by immigrant labour.

It is a welcome move, closely bound up with the continuing demand for immigrant labour in the Irish economy.

There is no evidence that immigrant labour has driven down wage rates, the Minister of State for Labour Affairs said today.

It also said affordable housing was "crucial" to ensuring immigrant labour is available in areas where it is needed most.

American labour is very largely immigrant labour still separated by barriers of language and tradition from the established thought of the nation.

An Englishman has made a large clearing here, and has established a fine farm, which he hopes to work successfully by means of immigrant labour.

The government has eased visa rules to allow businesses to make greater use of immigrant labour during alert levels 3 and 4.