Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

An international report on migrant workers published yesterday shows the benefits of migration not only to the host country but also to the workers themselves in being able to travel around the world to take up opportunities. Will the Leader arrange to have a debate on the green card before the end of the session?

We are happy to welcome people to Ireland to do work we will not do but we treat them appallingly when they try to leave to visit their own countries for two or three weeks. The other week I dealt with a case in my constituency involving a Romanian couple who have been here since 2003. They have three young children, one of whom was born here, while the other two were born in Romania. The couple made a simple request to leave Ireland for a two week visit to Romania to allow their children's grandparents to see their new grandchild. They were recently told by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that they may leave the country with their Irish child but must leave their Romanian children, aged six and nine years, here.

We need to get our heads around the fortress Ireland mentality. Officials of the Department, who can decide at the stroke of a pen who may come here, are behaving like demi-gods. The family in question is hard working and in this country legitimately. People who we want to come here and work are being told when they can enter and leave the country. A separate Department, with no relationship to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, should deal specifically with the issue of visas.