Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion

Photo of Colette KelleherColette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is case law, as Ms Finn and Mr. Henderson have stated and there also is clarity, which makes it easier to understand what the concept of dependency is. I have been following the disgraceful way in which people from the Windrush generation have been treated in the UK. The desire of the current Prime Minister when she was Home Secretary was to create a harsh environment for immigrants who would seek to settle in a country.

It is a case of how one does things. One can create, through obfuscation or lack of clarity, a position whereby one may have the law but the access to that law can be made as difficult or as easy as possible. There is also the issue of the spirit in which regulations and laws are put in place and interpreted.

I am very disappointed with the way the Department has responded to this Bill since it was introduced. Its spirit has been defensive and it has not given a listening ear to the arguments made. I think that also is the case on the ground for people who would apply. That is another worrying trend that has been evidenced through the progress of this Bill. While this possibly has been noted by this committee, it might also be reflected upon in any report issuing from today's proceedings.

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