Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Another issue has arisen in recent times, now that people in the asylum process are allowed to work and can gain employment. That is one of the most positive developments for several reasons. Many people in the asylum process worked previously. They had little part-time jobs. Nobody knew about it; they got a little bit of cash in hand and the people who employed them were delighted to have them. That was good for their mental health and for those around them. However, it made them more hesitant to issue a complaint or to say anything about their accommodation because they were operating outside of the law. That was a significant problem. I came across cases where people in the asylum process were doing a little work though they knew they were technically not supposed to. This meant that if an issue arose, they were afraid of their lives to say anything in case it impacted on them. That is one of the key ways in which allowing them to engage in employment has helped. Because they are in a vulnerable position, is there a risk that employers will not treat them as well as they would in different circumstances?