Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair for this opportunity to speak on this important issue, which, as a Deputy representing Dublin North, is close to my heart. The issues surrounding integration, permission to remain in the State and the right to work here are enormously important not only to my constituency, but to all other constituencies. Put simply, this is the consequence of having a vibrant country with a healthy economy. For whatever reasons, Ireland is a desirable place to live for all incoming migrants and, for Ireland, many of these inward migrants are desirable to the State. Our economy needs them as much as they need us.

Parts of our economy would have difficulty operating without the contribution of our immigrants. The Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, mentioned the health services, but what about culinary enterprises, construction and the service industry? We cannot deny that the success which today attracts more migrants than ever before has been the result of the hard work of many a pioneering immigrant who came here in the 1980s, 1990s and during this decade.

Many Members will be more than familiar with the immigration situation in Fingal, particularly in the northern regions around Balbriggan, which I represent. The challenges surrounding the issue of migrants and their rights which are facing my constituency are manifold and replicated throughout Ireland. With 10% of the population now represented by immigrants, it is vital that we take this time to consider their rights.

It is with great relief that I welcome this Bill, which will streamline and set in stone the rights of incoming migrants. Every step in the journey to becoming an Irish resident is involved, from eligibility and application processes to the type of permission granted and, if necessary, the scope for appeal. The legislative framework set out in the Bill will replace all current legislation, establishing transparent processes for every phase of the immigration cycle and seeing an end to the greyness and vagueness of the current system. My colleagues will agree that the existing system is outdated. That was inevitable when some of the legislation dated back to the 1930s.

This is the cause of much anxiety, frustration and confusion for applicants and the public representatives they often visit for assistance in completing their applications. This overhaul is much needed and applicants deserve a system, such as this one, which is clear and concise. The current system does not do the country any justice and these changes are long overdue. The new proposals set out in the Bill will bring a great deal of relief to those applying for permission to remain in the State, with straightforward admissions policies and migrant-management now being the way forward.

Similarly, our citizens should also welcome these new measures and remain confident in the belief that the legislation will continue to protect Irish borders in the way provisions in place were structured and attempted to do. The temptation exists to give the right to work to every migrant knocking at our door and to offer asylum to every person coming from an area of conflict. This is especially the case for Members who every week see many tearful people presenting themselves in their clinics seeking help. However, the State needs to remain responsible in its management of migrants. It is far better to use a considered and efficient process such as that proposed in the Bill now rather than deal with the implications of a free-for-all immigration policy some 20 or 30 years down the line. We need to learn from the experiences of the British and French who have each experienced decades of racial tension because of their ill-thought out immigration policies.

As already mentioned by the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, this new comprehensive legislation protects both the applicant and the State. This protection is further strengthened through the use of a bond system which is designed to reduce risk of abuse for family members of current immigrants visiting the country. The bond system will see visitors on visas pay a large sum of money which will be returned upon the person's departure from the State. This will ensure that the conditions attached to the visa will be complied with.

Another protection introduced is the power of the State to deport those remaining in the State illegally. This replaces the lengthy process which currently needs to be gone through before a person can be removed. However, our caution should not preclude us from rewarding those migrants who, over the years, have contributed greatly to the State, bearing in mind that the Bill's emphasis is on fairness. As such, I welcome the plan to introduce a new long-term residence status, giving many of the rights of citizens to those living in Ireland for at least five years. It rewards the contribution made and rewards the applicant with stability.

We risk a great deal by not protecting these immigrant workers now and convincing them to remain here. We are currently haemorrhaging nurses; many Filipino medics who trained in Ireland are now emigrating to Canada. Long-established east European construction specialists are in the same boat. I have just learned that FÁS is holding a conference in Croke Park next week for different employment groups and a number of east European employment agencies will be represented there with the aim of luring these workers back to the countries from which they came.

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