Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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106. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the survey and policy paper of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Ireland is Home, on the lives of undocumented migrants in Ireland (details supplied); if she will introduce a regularisation scheme for those who are currently undocumented in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8545/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has shown itself to be a country that is open to migration. This is clear from the census and from our citizenship ceremonies.

At EU Level, the Member States, in agreeing the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum at the European Council in October 2008 made specific commitments "to use only case-by-case regularisation, rather than generalised regularisation, under national law, for humanitarian or economic reasons". While the Pact is not legally binding, the political commitment among Member States, then and now, is clearly against any form of process that would in any way legitimise the status of those unlawfully present without first examining the merits of their individual cases. It is open to persons in an undocumented situation to present their case on its merits, to have it considered and to abide by the decision.

I note the report to which the Deputy is referring. I think however that it is important to recognise that in most cases a person becomes undocumented through their own actions by making the choice to remain in Ireland without immigration permission as opposed to the alternative of leaving the State, as they are supposed to do. The Department has operated a scheme to address the situation of that minority who became undocumented through no fault of their own.

I have no plans to introduce a general regularisation scheme for those who are currently undocumented in the State, although I am aware of calls for something on these lines. A proposal of this nature could give rise to very large, unpredictable and potentially very costly impacts across the full range of public and social services. Any possible implication for the operation of the Common Travel Area would also have to be very carefully considered.