Priya:

I am very active in my church and my community.

I came here as a student. I was working in the morning and studying in the evening for a master's degree in information technology and business. I failed one of my exams so I could not continue with my education. I lost my visa. When my children joined me here it was hard. I was juggling lots of things and trying to get back into the system but I could not do so. I tried everything.

For four years I was legal but after that, because I failed my exams, I could not get a visa and became undocumented. Since then, I have tried everything to get back into the system. My children are doing well in school. They have friends here and do not want to go back to Mauritius. Everything I do is for my children. I am trying hard for them. My daughter is 16 and is in transition year. Her teachers and friends do not know that she is undocumented. She cannot tell them because she is afraid they might talk. She keeps quiet. It is a big secret. We know many children like her who need to hide their true situation. It is stressful for them, mentally and physically. They are young but they worry about their future and whether they will be able to move forward. It is really difficult for my daughter and for all of the children who are in the same situation in Ireland. It is having a negative effect on their mental health. I hope this committee will listen to the UN presentation and take care of and protect our children.

My son is 17. He completed his leaving certificate last year and is studying business at college. We are paying international fees for him. His results were very good but he is worried about his future and whether he will ever be able to work here in Ireland. We do not know if he will be given the right to work in Ireland but we can fix that if this committee helps us. He is worried. He is not talking about it because he is a man. At 17, they do not talk - they keep it inside but I know that he is worried about his future because he is studying very hard.

Myself and my husband are both working. My husband is a qualified accountant. We both have a good education but have been working in low paid jobs, which is tough. We are highly educated but cannot work at good jobs. My children do not want to go back home because it is not for them anymore. It is a distant memory now. Home for them is Ireland. Myself and my husband also love Ireland. After eight years, we are rooted here. When we were preparing this speech we were laughing because my daughter is a true Dub. She speaks like a true Dub. She does not feel like a Mauritian. She is Irish. I am just trying to regularise my status in Ireland. I want to secure my kids' future and continue to contribute to Ireland.

We are the same as the undocumented Irish in the United States and are asking for the same thing. I am here on behalf of the thousands of undocumented migrants in Ireland. We ask the members of this committee to write to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on our behalf seeking the introduction of a regularisation process. We cannot fix this problem without this committee. Its members must be our voice and must speak up for us. We are paying tax and are part of the community. We are just asking to be recognised.

I will now hand over to Mr. Pablo Rojas Coppari.