Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ireland's record on combatting racial discrimination under the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD, is under scrutiny by the UN in Geneva this week. In his opening address to the UN committee, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Stanton, stated that "Ireland has also looked outwards with regard to its international obligations towards those fleeing conflict and persecution", and that Ireland has "developed family reunification initiatives to enable families and communities to bring to Ireland relatives living in areas of conflict." This is not quite correct, or at least not correct according to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, which stated in an independent report on Ireland's compliance with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was published last week that it has "serious concerns regarding retrogressive measures on family reunification introduced in the International Protection Act 2015 that limit the statutory right to family reunification to members of the nuclear family, and requires family reunification applications to be made within 12 months of the grant of refugee or subsidiary protection status – a timeframe that is impossible for many refugees."

My International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 offers a pathway forward in line with the IHREC report. I ask the Taoiseach and the Government to grant this modest Bill a money message. This would be a quick and easy step for the Government to take as the Bill has passed all Stages in this House and Second Stage in the Dáil in December last with sizable majorities. If there are improvements to the Bill from a Government perspective, these can be worked out on Committee Stage. A money message for the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 will allow us to expeditiously move forward and take prompt action on our responsibilities to refugees under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. If passed, this Bill would bring the State into line with UN CERD obligations and would mean a great deal to people who are desperately seeking to reunite with family members. I refer to people such as Mr. Izzeddeen Alkarajeh, who submitted a statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality for the detailed scrutiny of the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 which took place in February last and who is desperately seeking to reunite with his mother who is in a very dangerous situation in Palestine.At a time of rising anti-immigration sentiment, it is important that we as legislators reaffirm our commitment to welcoming people in need of international protection with openness and warmth. A money message for the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 would be a step in the right direction, as there are only incidental expenses involved under that Bill.

The UN committee in Geneva has also heard from a number of Traveller NGOs and others who also highlight how the State is falling short in the areas of Traveller accommodation, hate speech, education, health, employment, and more. Many of these issues have also been raised in the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, which I chair. The UN rapporteur for CERD, Dr. Shepherd, commented favourably on the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2017, which has passed all Stages in the Seanad. We need to progress this Bill and pass it through the Dáil, as the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, promised on 16 October. The passing of this Bill would be yet another brownie point for the Minister and the State and a step forward for Ireland in fulfilling its UN obligations. I have done bits of work for the Government, both on family reunification and Traveller culture and history. All it needs to do is to take these up and run with them. Can the Leader invite the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, who delivered Ireland's statement to the UN committee to the House to outline what actions and commitments the Government will take on foot of the hearings today and yesterday in Geneva? I will listen with great interest and intent as to Government actions on family reunification, as well as Traveller rights, to include, in particular, the teaching of Traveller history and culture in education.