Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for their input. I am enjoying this discussion. None of the four witnesses we have heard from has mentioned Covid, so I will raise it. The pandemic has shown us the challenges migrants face. It has also shown that the Government can introduce emergency measures and powers. For example, when we sought to introduce a ban on rent increases and evictions in the past we were told it would be unconstitutional and impossible to do so. Such bans were later introduced, however, and that prevented a number of people from becoming homeless who otherwise would have.

I was especially interested in the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland's presentation on the introduction of a firewall for undocumented migrants which made it easier for them to access the pandemic unemployment payment. Similar assurance was given to undocumented people in accessing healthcare and vaccinations. That was very welcome. I support the centre's call for that model to be maintained. I ask Ms McGinley or Ms Magat to elaborate on the call for that model to be expanded into the labour market. What would be the benefit of that, not only for the undocumented migrants but for society in general?