John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I acknowledge that the amendment will bring us into line with EU legislation, I wish to point to a serious problem for returning emigrants. I am not talking about welfare tourists or anything like that; I am referring to someone who is coming back having spent a number of years in Australia, America or wherever else on foot of a job offer. Perhaps after six months or one year that job will come to an end and the person concerned will then try to sign on. There are difficulties with the requirement for such persons to have lived in the State for two years. While I am not asking for it to be covered in the Bill, I am flagging it as an issue. I have come across Irish citizens who emigrated, came back, were in a job for a year and then sought entitlements. It is difficult to prove they have been here for two years to qualify. I ask the Minister to look at this issue at some point and perhaps we might have a broader discussion on it.