Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted that Ms Cumiskey has come before us to give us her perspective on the important work of Nasc as well as on this Bill. We have had difficulties in this area but in comparison with other European countries, we have managed some elements quite well. I think the proper drafting of this Bill is necessary to ensure we improve on it and do not have similar problems to what Britain and other countries have experienced. I think the people of Belfast will have a thing or two to say about the title of second city of Ireland. I just thought I would get that aside in there.

The Younis case has provided a watershed and has awoken a great many people to the exploitation. Mr. Mohammed Younis spoke at our committee last week and some of the information he provided would shock one to the bone about modern Ireland, and his experience bears out the necessity for improvement.

With regard to the reactivation of permits, Ms Cumiskey referred to the fact that some people were not able to regularise their situation. Is it difficult to estimate how many people are finding it difficult to reactivate their permits? She referred also to delays in processing applications. Has she information on how long these delays are and the difficulties they are causing people? One of the concerns some people would have about the Bill is that if a person arrives in Ireland illegally and then applies for a permit to work, that might create a weakness in our regulations. It is contended that people should have the opportunity to apply legally for a permit from abroad, but if one states that people can regularise their situation in Ireland, it will mean that others will worry that people will flock here to regularise their situation. I always think of the other side of the coin, the Irish in America, when I hear that argument and how strong we are when looking for regularisation of the undocumented Irish in the United States. Will Ms Cumiskey address that fear that some people have about people flocking to Ireland for work permits?

The complete dependency of the permit holder on the employer in my view creates the opportunity for exploitation. We have tabled an amendment on the spouses issue and we have also tabled an amendment for those who have been separated or divorced because these individuals need confirmation of their eligibility to be regularised. We support the views on the sectoral approach.

Although we will not be able to submit some of the Irish Immigrant Support Centre’s suggestions on Committee Stage, we can submit them on Report Stage.