Ms Edel McGinley:

I thank the Chairman and the committee for having us here. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland is a national organisation working to promote justice and empowerment for migrant workers in Ireland. We have been taking a stand with migrant workers for more than ten years through service provision, advocacy and policy change.

We have been working with undocumented migrants since 2001. We have seen the cumulative and detrimental effects being undocumented has had on people in the State. The issue is a serious one and is at a critical stage in this country. We estimate that 25,000 to 30,000 undocumented people live in this country, including families and children. Next year, 2013, as committee members are probably aware, is the year of immigration reform in this country and in the US. This issue must be dealt with separately from the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill in order that we can clean up the system comprehensively.

Data on undocumented migrants is limited but we have carried out a number of different studies with people who come through our doors. A total of 75 different nationalities are represented. People come from outside the EU and from all over the world. The majority are more than 30 years of age and they have been here for at least four years, and many of them are undocumented for up to 15 years. Approximately half of them have families and children living in the State. That is a large number of connections to the State.

In terms of a contribution, undocumented migrants spend €180 million annually, which is a big contribution to the economy. Many people have been engaged in employment for many years and have been with the same employer for more than four years. They have been working and paying tax and PRSI contributions. Many children are integrated into schools and their families are part of our communities.

I will not go into the proposal we sent in detail but it relates to earned regularisation. I will outline the benefits of an earned regularisation scheme. It would generate in the region of €75 million to €100 million annually through fees, fines and additional revenue from undocumented workers and their employers. It would bring the largest amount of undocumented people into the immigration system and enhance governance. Residence would be earned over a five-year period. There would not be an automatic right to residency. It is not an amnesty; it is something that is earned over a period and mirrors the long-term residency system that is already in place.

There are built-in safeguards to the scheme, which also works to root out unscrupulous employers in tandem with NERA and other agencies that are engaged in compliance. It will improve overall public security and compliance and add credibility to our efforts in the US to regularise undocumented Irish people there. The House has been active in advocating for the rights of the undocumented in the US. It also provides a humanitarian response. Failure to act is not an option. The cost of deporting this group of people would be in the region of €90 million. It is untenable for the State to even begin to consider that.

To date, we have received much support for earned regularisation. We have received political support from Deputies and Senators across political parties. The Labour Party has passed a motion. We have also received support from Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and other councils across the country. It has also been endorsed by a number of organisations that are listed in the submission given to committee members. They include trade unions, business and religious organisations and voluntary and community organisations.

We urge the committee to raise the issue with the Minister and to ask him to respond to the proposal on earned regularisation. We seek an agreement as a matter of urgency that earned regularisation will be introduced in the State to give hope to people who are undocumented.