Derek McDowell (Labour)

The amendments in the names of the Labour Party Senators amount to the same as those proposed by Senator Norris. The latter point is of some importance. It would be great if we were able to deal with all applications for refugee status within six months but the reality is that we are not and have not done so in the past, although the period is shortening. While discounting a period of six months from the reckonability of three years would be fair enough, we could easily end up with people in the system for several years. If it is ultimately decided that those people were entitled to refugee status, and their entitlement derives from the day they arrived, not when the decision was made, then, retrospectively, it is reasonable to count that period while they were in the system towards the three year residency requirement.

The second issue is that of students. It seems churlish and ungenerous to exclude students from making application based on three years residence here. I do not know how many we are dealing with but I assume the number is not huge. These people are being invited in and frequently pay high fees. A number of our third level colleges depend on having international students paying tens of thousands of euro. They contribute meaningfully to Irish society during the period of their studies. In the circumstances it would be generous to allow them make an application in respect of any child they have here after three years residency as a student.