The rules have changed little. What has changed is contactors' realisation that they have been totally misled by their agencies and technical employers and the various EU tax men cracking down on the flagrant breaches. Social contributions/insurances have always been payable where you spend most of your time, which is usually where you work, ie the country in which you are based, and income tax is payable in the country in which you are based. Paying Irish taxes has never been legitimate unless based there. Previous research would have revealed this...
Thankfully, under the EU double taxation agreement, you won't be charged in two countries for the same bill - ie., the UK won't charge you for either NIC or income tax if based elsewhere, even if you have property in the UK and even if you live here on days off or the family are still here. What does get messy is if you work outside of the EU and have family or available dwellings within - then you will often be liable for charges in that EU country as well as wherever you are working (something to be considered when you look exitedly at the tax-free contracts in the ME or China).