Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

As I promised the House in the face of a measure of scepticism, I am dealing in a generous and humane way with all parents of Irish-born children. Approximately 18,000 applications to reside in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish-born child were made before the deadline of 31 March under the relevant scheme and that approximately 3,000 of that number have been granted leave to remain.

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