THE TAOISEACH HAS told a gathering of senior construction industry figures that the sector needs to be more vocal about immigration so that Ireland can supply the workforce needed for major projects.
In unscripted remarks towards the end of an opening address at the annual Construction Industry Federation (CIF) conference in Croke Park, Micheál Martin said there was a “need” for builders to be assertive on how “vital” immigration is for the economy.
Referring to the “broader migration” issue and opposition to it in Ireland, the Taoiseach said: “All of you and all of us have to stand up against that and have to assert that human capital is key for our society and our economy.”
“If we lose that we will lose one on the key ingredients in terms of our economic growth and we will be challenged on our availability of skills,” Micheál Martin said this morning.
“This is why we must continue to invest and expand the capacity of our construction sector,” Martin said, adding that there had been an 18% increase in workers in the industry year on year.
Immigration has been one of the key issues facing the coalition since it took office earlier this year.
Martin’s government has sought to tighten controls, paying for special charter flights to deport dozens of people over recent months. In the past week, it has proposed paying up to €10,000 for families to drop their asylum claims and return to their home country.
However, warnings have been issued by the Central Bank about how Ireland’s population is getting older, placing more pressure on the existing workforce.
Martin pointed to labour shortages in Ireland’s construction workforce, which he said “represent a key structural barrier” to the delivery of housing and infrastructure.
Migrant labour is key to construction, as heard in the Dáil earlier this month, where it was outlined that there were 27,500 migrant workers in Ireland’s construction sector as of 2023. These people came here legally and have been helping to build much needed homes, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan told TDs.
People who have come to Ireland seeking international protection are also permitted to work if they have been waiting six months on their application for asylum.
