Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 12, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:

“Report on dependent permit holders 3. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the labour market access available to spouses of employment permit holders, particularly looking to the gender impact.”.

We are very concerned about the inequity permit holders will experience in terms of reunification with their families. Last week, hundreds of migrant workers held a demonstration outside the offices of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, in protest at policies that keep them separated from their loved ones. These policies pose challenges for permit holders across all categories. During a meeting of the Joint Committee on Health this morning, of which I am a member, we heard that doctors face significant delays, despite the policy stating that their family can join them immediately.

For those on regular permits, the situation is even more challenging. Migrant Rights Centre Ireland found that the most common sectors of non-national employment are care and domestic work, restaurants, retail, hospitality and fisheries, with one in ten workers experiencing exploitation. According to the Department's records, employment permits issued for the care sector account for a significant number.

Migrant care workers, many of whom are registered nurses in their countries of origin, must wait one year before they can seek reunification. This reunification can only happen if the care worker can demonstrate an ability to provide for their family, which is often not possible due to low pay in the sector. This results in a policy discrepancy whereby migrants working in the sector are brought to Ireland under the impression that their families can join them, but then realise a year later it is not possible due to the pay and conditions they are subject to while they remain in employment here.

We risk creating a system whereby we are separating people from their families so that they can come to Ireland and care for our loved ones. These amendments speak to these concerns and discrepancies. According to a joint report issued by ActionAid and the National Women's Council earlier this year, 80% of paid care workers in Ireland are women. The amendment provides oversight of the conditions and wages of permit workers, as well as outlining labour market access to spouses of permit holders with a focus on gender impact.