Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask Mr. King to send me a note on the matter and I will request that the Oireachtas Library and Research Service look into it. Some 95% of laws enacted in Ireland each year are EU regulations and directives. The Minister has the power to amend those regulations. The answer might be to outline to the Minister that all that is required is for him to sign a statutory instrument to extend the rights in regard to working in Ireland to Irish citizens returning from outside the EU. Once he is provided with the answer, it will be quite easy. However, if we do not provide the answer, we will still be discussing this in five years' time. It is about identifying the impediment. That seems to be a serious issue. Similarly, the entitlement to social welfare is a policy issue. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, has the power to state that those rights will accrue to Irish citizens returning from outside the State.

Mr. King indicated that a lack of awareness among returning emigrants is the root of the problem. They do not know what should be done before arrival. They end up on the witnesses' doorsteps because they are in difficulty. The Department tried to create a one-stop shop in the form of the returning emigrants section, but emigrants do not know it exists. The lack of awareness is the major cause of the problem. Returning emigrants should be made aware that they need to take certain steps long in advance of their return. That would avoid the trauma which is caused, as particularly demonstrated by the case of the man who returned to look after his elderly uncle and ended up in poverty for doing the State the significant service of preventing the uncle from having to go into permanent care. We need to tackle the lack of awareness and try to ensure that returning emigrants are aware of the existence of the witnesses' organisations and that they should take certain steps long in advance of returning. Accessing certain services on their return can be hugely problematic if they have not taken those steps.

Perhaps the committee should ask the Minister to appear to discuss what action was planned on this issue 12 months ago and what has been done in the intervening period to improve the situation.