Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, we had healthcare workers from the private nursing homes across Ireland present at the Dáil and they have a very serious issue. There are approximately 1,000 of these people and I met some of them yesterday and I also met their leadership, one of whose officials is former Deputy Ruth Coppinger. I met them outside as a group, as a collective, together with some of their leadership executive. Their issue is very heartbreaking. Many qualified nurses from India and the Philippines, who have the normal qualifications and are now working as healthcare assistants here, are separated from their families. The average salary among this cohort is approximately €27,000, but there is a framework within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which stipulates that in order to bring over a spouse they must be earning €30,000. In order to bring over a child with the spouse - there is often more than one child in these countries and cultures - such a person must be earning €33,000. The bottom line, in any event, is that we have a chronic labour shortage in this country across all sectors. I am sure all Members have encountered this in their clinic work. I know that a number of hostelries remain closed all week because they cannot get workers. Many of the spouses of these people are nurses and there is a chronic need for them in the health service. The bottom line is that there should be no prohibition on bringing over these workers' legitimate family members, reuniting them here, and entering them into the workforce. They are, potentially, wonderful contributors to the workforce here.

These workers are separated from their children, which is very difficult for them. They are working in the health sector, which is stressful by its nature. Reading some of their submissions, as they know best how to put it, they state that they are essential workers, are mothers and parents and are compelled to keep a relationship with their children across different time zones via WhatsApp and Zoom. Many of them, as I have already said, are spouses. They are looking for more pay. Thankfully, the minimum wage has greatly increased which will overtake events, to some degree. Fundamentally, we need to lower the threshold. We need to increase their pay. They are entitled to the increased pay with the minimum wage and to better pay and conditions. That is a given. We also need to reduce these ridiculous thresholds. There is no question but that in 95% - I want to impress this point if I may to the Cathaoirleach and to the Leader - or 90% of cases, the people will be bringing over spouses and families who will contribute greatly to our economy as nurses and care assistants, etc. This is a bizarre kind of situation. I ask the Leader to look at this issue very carefully. On a humane level and on every level, including economic, it just makes no sense. In all of my time doing such work and meeting people, I have never met a case which is so poignant and so ridiculous. I appeal to the Leader to go to the relevant Departments with this issue. I can give her this document later as this is just bizarre.