Ms Helen Lowry:

I would like to come in there. Our recommendations are in the report, but we ask for the committee to raise the issue of access with the Minister and the Department and would like the Minister to respond in that regard, particularly with regard to citizenship and the situation as outlined by Ms Bazborodova. We would like the Department of Education and Skills to seek a meeting with the Department of Justice and Equality and relevant officials to monitor interim measures for naturalisation of children on non-EU migrants. This is the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality, but it has a direct implication for equality of access to third level for immigrants. We hope this issue could be resolved through a meeting.

We also urge the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection to take a lead to ensure effective and immediate action is taken to address the situation of young people who have secured Irish citizenship but are unable to reverse their fee status. We got word back from the European Commission in regard to Article 18 of the treaty on the function of the European Union, that any discrimination on the grounds of nationality is prohibited. Ms Bazborodova has outlined very well the cost and benefit in that regard but we have also included in the submission the benefit that comes from young people who have graduated from third level, in terms of their contribution to the economy.