The government is to provide 500 working visas for those from outside the EU working in the fisheries industry.

It is aimed at changing the status of undocumented workers in the industry to make sure that they are legally working in Ireland.

It follows revelations in The Guardian that some migrant workers are being exploited on fishing vessels.

A special investigative report uncovered a catalogue of abuses and raised serious questions about the widespread use of human trafficking to staff Ireland’s fishing industry, with illegal workers working at ports all around the country.

Trafficked migrant workers from Africa and Asia were found to have been used as illegal, cheap labour, and working in appalling conditions on Irish trawlers.

"One of our objectives was to clarify the employment situation for very exposed and vulnerable migrant workers who are working  in sections of the Irish fishing industry.

"We are now in a situation where there will be an established employee/employer relationship under Irish law and statutory minimum rates of pay would apply to those who are working in the industry who are coming from a non-EEA background," he added.

For the visa to be valid employers would have to give the worker a formal contract of employment - meaning if they want to bring in skilled workers from outside the EU they must be contracted.

Junior Minister for Employment Ged Nash says the measures will give workers more job security.