Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I genuinely understand this issue and have met many of the people who are undocumented in this country. I met the MRCI recently and spoke to one such individual who has not seen his family in many years. I understand how difficult this is. I personally know people who are living outside Ireland and are in a similar situation. That is why we have committed in the programme for Government to setting out a scheme for undocumented people within 18 months of the formation of the Government. By the end of this year, which is only just over two months away, I will have a report on this matter, having engaged with various groups and organisations and having looked at various schemes that previously existed, some of which I mentioned in my initial answer. Based on that, hopefully by the end of next year we will have set out a scheme and pathway for those undocumented people. This is something to which I and this Government are absolutely committed and I reassure those who are in that position that we want them to feel as if this is their home, although they should already feel that way because they have been here for many years. Most important, they should be able to continue going about their daily lives without the fear that they may be deported at any stage and be able to see their families, which many of them have not been able to do in a long time. This is a priority for me and I will absolutely commit to try to address it within the timelines I have just set out.

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