ABSTRACT
The Irish migration experience at the beginning of the twenty-first century was quite extraordinary. Within the space of a decade, the country's share of foreign-born population doubled to over 17 per cent (OECD, 2011, p. 385). In the context of an open labour market and an unprecedented economic boom, Ireland attracted large-scale migration from the new EU member states (NMS). Since EU enlargement in 2004, more than half a million citizens from the NMS, in particular from Poland, have arrived in the country. While this migration contributed to economic growth during the boom years, it also raised concerns about social dumping and a ‘race to the bottom’ in relation to employment conditions. Although the boom came to an abrupt end in 2008, compliance with wage agreements and employment regulations remains a significant challenge in the ‘post-Celtic Tiger’ era.
