Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Irish people are a generous people. We recognise the need of so many people fleeing persecution and war who come to this country. Long may that continue. People have said to me on the doorsteps that they recognise the fantastic contribution being made by people from various countries around the world in, for example, our healthcare system. However, there is concern about people who are economic migrants using the asylum process, nice people as they may be. I note that the recent midnight plane to Georgia brought 32 of them back to that country. However, this is a drop in the ocean, even if the numbers involved are increasing in percentage terms. We need to be more targeted in terms of work permits. We need South African bus drivers, for example, as they drive on the same side of the road as we do. In that context, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to introduce a new international protection Act in 2026. Why so far away? This is an urgent issue.

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