Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that. There are practical measures available. I am aware of the report on challenges faced by returning Irish emigrants. The economic report the Minister has mentioned will be published in the next few weeks. I am asking for a commitment that the matter will be debated here in the House. I will explain why. Significant numbers are returning and that is great and fantastic. I have travelled to a number of our embassies, though not as many as has the Minister in his role. They are meeting people who are inquiring about what happens when one comes back to Ireland. How does one get a mortgage? What is the situation concerning insurance premiums? They are concerned with all of these things.

There are practical measures open to the Government. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, could meet the Irish Banking Federation and ask why its members insist on these terms for people who have earnings records in other countries or why they insist on P60s. The Government could ask Insurance Ireland why its members set aside previous driving records in Ireland and do not take into account driving or claims records in England, Europe, Canada or the United States. It makes no sense. Some of these industries are simply gouging returning Irish emigrants because they know they can make money off their backs. We need to fix it and measures can be taken.

I welcome the response and the commitment via the report. I ask the Minister to give a commitment that, if it is not discussed in plenary session in the Dáil, he will bring the report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, so that we can agree the measures that need to be taken urgently.

See this speech in context