Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

Will the Government revisit the issue of signing and ratifying the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families? According to the replies I have thus far received, the convention is being examined by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The reason given for not signing it is that protections already exist, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but that is not quite the case. If families and dependants are able to accompany immigrants, migration patterns change from a circular movement to a more manageable system. The Human Rights Commission has strongly recommended that Ireland should give a lead in that regard.

The convention was signed in 1990 and 34 states have since ratified it. However, a terrible impression is left by the fact that no EU member state has signed or ratified the convention. If Europe is to be serious about migrants and their families, this is the road to follow. I ask the Government to reconsider its decision.

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