Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I strongly suggest that the Department return to the position of only issuing positive decisions during this period. Those who might be required to appeal cannot engage with the community or seek support if people cannot visit households.I am aware that people have been deeply distressed to have friends who have received deportation orders and who have not been able to engage with or see how they might be able to support them. I suggest strongly to the Minister of State that he formally return to the policy of only issuing positive decisions. I also suggest that the 30-day requirement, as proposed in that report, be implemented and that there should be a cessation in the issuing of these letters during that period until that 30-day period is set in place because a five-day notice landing in the middle of a lockdown level 5 is too distressing for people.

I appreciate that there are pragmatics but it is important that there is a clearer policy for those who receive letters. They often cannot even seek legal advice in that time. Can the Minister of State formalise the more humane policy that was adopted earlier in the crisis?