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IRELAND’S UNDOCUMENTED ARE set to be discussed when the Foreign Affairs Committee meets with Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton today.
Today’s meeting will also deal with issues such as the European Neighourhood Policy, the enlargement of the EU, as well as developments in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Pat Breen, said that “the status of undocumented Irish in the United States is an issue of interest and concern for our Committee.”
The committee is due to receive an update from the Irish Abroad Unit on America’s plan for immigration reform and how this could potentially improve the position of undocumented Irish. Breen added:
Due to their status, many undocumented Irish are unable to return home for funerals, family occasions, to visit sick or elderly relatives and friends or even for holidays.
Breen also said that he welcomed the chance to discuss the European Neighbourhood Policy, along with the “EU’s relationship with neighbouring countries, as well as considering the EU’s enlargement agenda and the accession process of prospective new member States and developments in the OSCE.”
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You mean “illegal immigrants”? I ask because that’s what we call people who sneak into our country.
I may be wrong, but it appears that the Irish government has double standards. It is OK if illegal/undocumented immigrants are Irish, but not OK if they aren’t Irish.
Why is this?
Because Ireland is the home of double standards.
We were there first.
And undocumented human beings being forced to live in public toilets.
They weren’t forced to live in public toilets, they choose to. They were housed by the charity groups in Ennis but had to leave because of behavour caused by the alcohol. They were also given a home in Galway city recently but left it and returned to Ennis and started living rough again after only a week. You shouldnt use these poor unfortunates to make a incorrect point.
Thanks Pat for your comment. However, I would like to add that the unfortunate Czech National was not an illegal immigrant. The Czech Republic entered the EU in 2004 so the poor gentleman had more rights than an illegal immigrant. Furthermore, the late Mr. Pavelka gave his family the impression that he was doing well here in Ireland.
In this case, the late Mr. Pavelka made the choice to live rough and ignore support from the state.
That’s the kind of thing people say about the homeless Irish in London…
Exactly they are illegal aliens. If they regularised it will be for economic reasons. I have a family member over there illegally but it is a sub life that illegal people choose.
Lemass was offered buy declined an open visa programme in the 1960s bizarrely,
Not quite. Ireland had a yearly quota of 50, 000 American green cards per year – Lemass wanted the youth to stay at home, so rescinded the deal. What a stupid thing to do, other small countries would love a similar deal.
Also, if I were illegally in Ireland (im not, I swears) id get as many people as possible, in a similar position as myself, to write a letter to the American ambassador(Dan Rooney?) to Ireland to highlight the Irish governments hypocrisy on this issue.
Theres similar number of illegal immigrants here, as there are Irish over there. Lets be realistic – neither groups are going to ever leave. Probably best to legalise both and then become more stringent on incomers.
Undocumented? Illegal immigrants I would have thought.
Get our country in order first. Legal immigrants face hugh increase in price of visas and documents.schools and colleges go bankrupt and leave foreign students with nothing. Cost of citizenship is over 1k. Criteria to setup business here and be granted business visa is to have 300k in bank and employ 2 irish citizens.
As for illegal here, employees hold all the power and face only slap on wrist if caught paying next to nothing. If we imposed zero tolerence how many would loose childcare? All the conditions that illegals face in USA are the same and worse here.
So buy getting our country in order first… Do you mean have America return all the illegal Irish to Ireland and Ireland return all of the illegal immigrants to their countries of orgin? Then permit all to apply and use the legal routes of entry into each country?
@marlon no i dont want a population of 18 million in ireland. What i am saying is that both countries need immigration and a balance in legislation to be made in order to have less illegal. when you are seeking legal entry, you face so many costs and barriers that only promote the opposite or leave people changing status every 2nd year or stuck here illegal after working for 5 years.
Without immigration in USA it has been shown that statistically many industries would be in trouble 50% workforce on farms are immigrants and qaurter construction and child minding rough stats taken from hispanic centres. While we were in boom years it would not have been possible without a immigrant workforce and in hardtimes childcare is a major priority.
Barney R, I believe we are in agreement regarding the fact that America and Ireland both need immigration. However, I believe that we are not in agreement regarding the legality of the immigration. An Irish Illegal\undocumented immigrant in America is unacceptable and these persons are criminals. An Illegal\undocumented immigrant in Ireland is unacceptable and these persons are criminals.
Hundreds of people in both countries go through the proper channels and procedures to enter and remain. Why should persons who by-passed immigration laws be given legal status?
I believe the Irish government should stop lobbying America to permit illegal\undocumented Irish immigrants to remain and instead enacting a reciprocity program.
Funny that america was a powerhouse before the ted kennnedy immigration reform bill. No country needs mass immigration. The farmers can modernise rather than rely on cheapo labour.
have your say