Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The reaction of the Houses to this issue appears hypocritical sometimes when contrasted with the reaction of Members to the undocumented Irish working in the USA. We focus on the rights of Irish people but do not necessarily afford the same rights to migrants working here. It is a massive problem for those who are forced to work in the grey areas, many of whom are exploited because unscrupulous employers know they have significant legal leverage. We have seen this, in particular, in the case of au pairs working in the State.

While the Minister is having Cabinet meetings, he might tell the Minister for Justice and Equality that migrant rights organisations which do a tremendous work with individuals are having their funds cut and closing, while European funds channelled through his Department and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government remain unspent. It is important that advocacy groups have the resources needed to represent this section of society. When will the Minister ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 189 on domestic workers? Will he provide a precise timetable for the resolution of these outlying issues.

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