Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

Before I became a TD five months ago, I was a healthcare worker in a dementia unit. I had the privilege of working with healthcare workers from many different countries. Unfortunately, many of them are undergoing an horrific experience of being separated from their families, sometimes for years, because of the unfair family reunification system in this country. There are people who are doing essential jobs who have been recruited in Ireland because we cannot fill these jobs ourselves. These people are doing essential jobs and are part of our community. People are being denied their basic right to have their family with them because they do not earn a high enough salary because of the types of jobs the are in. Relationships are being torn apart. Everyone deserves to have their family with them when it comes to living and working in Ireland. Will the Minister of State undertake this essential work and please help these families? Will he commit to publishing this review as soon as possible and changing this unfair reunification system?

See this speech in context