Ms Helen Lowry:

We interviewed 540 undocumented migrants. Some 87% were in employment and 66.5% were with the same employer for more than two years. Almost 30% were in the same job for longer than five years. We were surprised ourselves by the last two statistics in terms of length of time with the same employer. We have found consistently that people are in medium to low-wage work but they are carrying out essential work. At the moment, considering our projections, they are employed in sectors that are essential to the function of the economy and society. They are working in the care sector, which Mr. Montenegro mentioned, and in the restaurant and catering industry. They are involved in domestic work, looking after older people, children and people with special needs. They are in cleaning and maintenance jobs. People are in all types of jobs. We have found, categorically, that the vast majority of people are working.

Not all people were paying tax, but over half had paid tax at some stage in their employment history. This says a lot because, as we know with the undocumented Irish in the US, there is an inherent risk, in terms of being detected by the state, in using one's social security number, or in Ireland's case one's PPS number, and fully disclosing and paying tax. People want to pay tax and make a contribution. As someone from the group reminded me yesterday, people want to work. They have no access to social welfare; it is not possible. People also do not want to access social welfare because, in the long term, if they are applying for citizenship, it will not be viewed favourably on a citizenship application. Therefore, in the first place, they cannot access social welfare and, in the second, they do not want to as they are here to work.

I am glad Deputy Mac Lochlainn heard Mr. Montenegro's interview this morning. He was asked what is the first thing he would do if he got his papers. He said the first thing he would do is go home and see his children. He would then, it is hoped, come back and finish his work here so his youngest can finish college. We would hear the same from the vast majority of undocumented Irish in the United States. This is the idea of circular migration, that is, being able to come and go. People have put down roots. This is the disconnect. People are here long term. We have found 81% were in Ireland a minimum of five years. Of that figure, 40% were here over eight years and one in five were here over a decade. These people are not recent arrivals. They have put down roots. There are people in the Visitors Gallery today who have two or three teenagers each. These teenagers have finished secondary school. One of the women has a daughter who was a straight A student. This girl is currently unable to go to college or work. She is having a very tough time, to say the least, because of this. In her mind, she is Irish; she grew up in Ireland. This is the other side to it. People put down roots and many are in employment.