The Labour Party was accused of being "opportunistic, inconsistent, hypocritical, untrustworthy, incompetent, xenophobic and cynical" on immigration, by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Responding to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte's suggestion that EU citizens from the 10 accession countries might require visas before being allowed to work here, the Minister said he was being totally inconsistent with previous policy proposals from the Labour Party.
The Minister said just seven months ago Mr Rabbitte proposed that in addition to allowing all EU nationals to come here as migrants, Ireland should also engage in an initiative in which 15,000 migrants, mainly from Third World countries, would be admitted to Ireland to seek work.
"This is an astonishing statement from someone who seven months later wants to introduce a system of employment permits for Polish workers within the EU.
"Where now stands Labour? Michael D Higgins, Joan Burton, Brendan Howlin have been struck dumb in the face of a formal party policy approved by them seven months ago being turned inside out and then torn apart by Pat Rabbitte.
"They well know that this hypocritical volte face is inspired by focus group research which shows the electorate does not trust Labour on migration issues," said Mr McDowell.
The Minister added that what Mr Rabbitte and Labour said last summer was that even if most of Ireland's labour market needs could be met from within the enlarged EU, that should not lead to an automatic shutting down of immigration for work purposes from other countries.
Mr McDowell said Labour had proposed that immigrants be accepted using certain broad criteria, taking account of skills and experience, knowledge of English and willingness to undergo training, but without a requirement of a specific job offer.
"Labour's position has changed dramatically. In summer 2005 Labour wanted up to 15,000 immigrants annually over and above EU immigration. Indeed, in summer 2004, Pat Rabbitte went on record saying 'we can afford to share our wealth and prosperity with people who are poorer, and we should.'
"In winter 2006: Labour considers restricting immigration from EU countries. Can we trust Labour's position on any policy after a somersault of this magnitude?" asked Mr McDowell.
"It isn't a matter of Labour being 'racist'. That is too serious a charge. Although that is the charge which Labour and others freely levelled against the 2004 citizenship referendum proposal.
"It is simply a matter of Labour being opportunistic, inconsistent, hypocritical, untrustworthy, incompetent, xenophobic and cynical. And it is a matter of 'Old Labour' deputies throwing all their ideals to the wind in order to conceal the depth of the cynical and deceptive politics being practised in their names and on their behalf."
Mr McDowell said Mr Rabbitte was being consistent with his Worker Party roots. "When he was a leading member of that party, it led the charge in publicly condemning the Solidarity trade unionists in Poland and it supported the 'Iron Curtain' method of controlling Polish labour migration. In those days, Labour had the courage to disagree."
McDowell on Rabbitte and immigration issue
"When he was a leading member of that party [Workers' Party], it led the charge in publicly condemning the Solidarity trade unionists in Poland and it supported the 'Iron Curtain' method of controlling Polish labour migration."
