Ireland must regularise the position of undocumented migrants - Justice & Equality Committee report

In a report on Immigration, Asylum and the Refugee Crisis, published today, Thursday 29 June 2017, the Committee said such a scheme would give undocumented migrants a window of opportunity to come forward, pay a fee and regularise their situation. Given the urgency of addressing this situation, the scheme should be introduced, initially at least, on an administrative basis rather than through legislation, the Committee recommended, adding that applications should be administered on a case-by-case basis.

Committee Chair Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said: “There are many potential benefits to such a scheme, allowing individuals, many of whom are already in employment and have a long-term connection to the State, to regularise their situation, pay taxes, and make a positive contribution to Irish society generally at a time when the country is returning to steady growth in employment opportunities.”

The report’s other recommendations are:

•    Family reunification

The Committee wishes to see a more humanitarian approach adopted towards the plight of Syrian and other refugees who are naturalised citizens of Ireland but who have immediate or extended family members who are displaced or living in great danger in conflict zones. It calls on the Government to introduce a humanitarian admission programme, with transparent and clearly defined criteria, to deal with visa applications in a more sensitive way and offer a safe and legal route for people to flee conflict zones and be reunited with family members in Ireland.

•    Relocation Programme

Whilst the Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to relocate 4,000 people here as part of the EU’s emergency response, it does not believe this is adequate in light of the scale of the current humanitarian crisis. Without putting an exact figure on it, the Committee believes there is scope to increase this figure significantly;

•    Unaccompanied Minors

Notwithstanding the all-party motion passed in the Dáil in November 2016, committing Ireland to taking 200 children from the former Calais migrant camp, the Committee is strongly of the view that much more needs to be done for the specific cohort of unaccompanied minors within the broader context of the refugee protection programme.

•    Direct Provision

The Committee is of the view that Ireland’s system of direct provision should only ever be a short-term measure, and that it is unacceptable for individuals to be living within the system on a long term basis.

Deputy Ó Caoláin TD added: “Europe is currently confronted with the most serious refugee crisis since World War II. The ongoing tragic conflict in Syria has contributed to unprecedented migratory flows to Europe, which have put enormous pressure on the asylum systems of the frontline Member States. This, in turn, has repercussions for Ireland and the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality identified immigration and the refugee crisis as one of its priority issues in its 2016-17 work programme.

“The Committee welcomes the fact that Ireland voluntarily opted to participate in the EU’s emergency response, offering 4,000 places to those in need of international protection under resettlement and relocation programmes. However, concerns were expressed in the course of its hearings in regard to the overall adequacy of our response; the position of undocumented migrants in Ireland; family reunification; and the functioning of our direct provision system.

“The Committee held a series of interesting and informative engagements with relevant stakeholders – the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland and NASC Ireland, as well as with Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, Tánaiste and then Minister for Justice and Equality, and Deputy David Stanton, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality. Arising out of those hearings, the Committee has made a number of recommendations, which have been sent to the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Committee looks forward to further engagement on this matter.”

Read the report here http://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/32/justice-and-equality/