Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses for their very useful presentations. It is really valuable for us to hear about the experiences of migrant communities engaging with State bodies, particularly in the context of Covid, and to hear how Covid has impacted on communities. We are all very conscious of the really disproportionate effect that Covid has had on so many migrant communities for so many reasons.

I am interested to know how we as legislators can support the work the witnesses are doing. Having listened to the presentations and read the submissions, it strikes me that there are three different areas that the witnesses are all addressing. The first is immigration law and it has been a pleasure to work with Ms McGinley of the Migrant Rights Centre on the Labour Party's Born Here Belong Here campaign, where we were trying to get more generous pathways to citizenship for children born in Ireland to non-national parents. I am really glad that the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is working very constructively with us and that we will see reform of our immigration law. I note that the Migrant Rights Centre in its recommendations asks this committee to write to the Minister for Justice to ensure that the scheme that is forthcoming to regularise people living here is as broad and inclusive as possible. We hear that clearly from the centre. How can we help to support that objective?

The second area is practical entitlements around work permits, driver licences and so on. I am conscious that an amendment to the Road Traffic Bill from the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, is coming which will give effect to the entitlement to driving licences for asylum seekers. That is long overdue. Is there any other way we can support, through legislative initiatives, those practical entitlements? Finally, on the supports that the witnesses mentioned, things like the yellow sticker initiative is such an interesting and practical idea or the bystander initiative to support bystanders in intervening where they see a hate crime being carried out. Do the witnesses have any further thoughts on that? I am also interested in the interpreting service, particularly the Roma Covid information line that Dr. Skuce described. Are there any practical ways we can help the witnesses in those three areas or any other areas? I thank them again for their presentations.