Bríd Smith presses for assurances on deportations and care workers

Goeir mhagodh, Le Sceann Coirle. Minister, I really want to hugely welcome the indication you gave yesterday in the Seannad that there'd be no deportations allowed during the pandemic. So my question might seem a bit redundant, but I would ask you to reiterate exactly what is the intention of the department in relation to those who have received letters. And I particularly would like to put emphasis on the two care workers that I've raised with you repeatedly. in relation to what they have to do next. Basically, you have written back to me, fair play, you've written answers, but I'd like to know what is their next steps in terms of making an appeal directly to you. Thank you. And what is the position of deportation? Minister. Just reassure the deputy, I suppose, and repeat what I said yesterday, that my department has and will continue to take a pragmatic approach, but most importantly, a compassionate approach in relation to immigration. arrangements in the context of COVID-19. This approach to deportation orders will continue during the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. A decision to suspend the issuing of negative international protection decisions during level five restrictions has already been taken and this remains in place and this will continue under the International Protection Act 2015. We know a person receives a letter informing them of their negative international protection decision, informing them that they no longer have permission to remain in the state and that they're required to confirm within five days whether or not they will accept that voluntary return. Again, it's important to point out that that individual does not have to remove themselves from the state within those five days. For the duration of level five COVID-19 restrictions, I asked my officials to review the issuing of letters and no refusal letters or letters to anyone who have been in seeking international protection. I wish to add that since the outbreak of COVID-19 since March 2020, there have only been four cases where individuals have been deported from the state. Three of those cases arose from deportation orders issued prior to March 2020 and for one of the cases where the deportation order was issued, that person was returned to their country and was not a failed international protection applicant. In terms of those found not to be in need of international protection, obviously there's always a detailed consideration given to all aspects of their case. This has to be considered carried out before decision is granted to remain or to not and perhaps maybe without getting into detail about individual cases here, there is a very clear process and I would urge anybody who is applying through that process to provide as much detail as possible because all considerations are taken into account, family situations, work situations, humanitarian situations, obviously where they're coming from as well, all of this detail is really, really important. So for anybody, whether it's the individual cases that you've mentioned, I would stress in making any kind of an appeal that they would provide all that information, but also any new information that may have come to light that you feel it wasn't taken into account in the initial response. Thank you, Minister. That's very helpful. One other thing that has just come to light before I came in here, I spoke to a couple of care workers who have deportation orders. And their panic now is that their work permit expires in the next couple of weeks, one's already expired, the other expires in the next couple of weeks. And in that situation, that doesn't help us because it means two care workers who could be doing very useful and vital work during the pandemic are not able to because they don't have work permits. But they can't apply to extend their work permit because of this order that they have or this refusal of the leave to remain. So it's it's complex and it's hard to know. For me, it's hard to know how to advise them. But I take it from what you've just said, and maybe you could come back on this, that they should make an appeal reiterating and outlining all of the circumstances that they have faced and are facing and the details of the basis of that appeal. And I think I take it from that, that the Department will look favourably on it, particularly to people like care workers and indeed artists and people who make a contribution to our community. Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Deputy. As you've rightly outlined, we're in a very difficult and complex situation. And by by taking one action, you're potentially having an impact on in another space. So I think it's really important that there is that joined up thinking and that we do try and provide as much reassurance to everybody here that's impacted by this. And what I can say perhaps is that I could speak to you separately about the individual cases. But I think what we want to try and do is reassure people that they won't be deported throughout this pandemic. And I think the figures show that that that is the approach that we have always taken from the very outset. And but obviously, where there are complex and difficult cases, I would encourage people to always engage and to continue to engage with the relevant agencies and with the departments. And of course, to raise their particular situations, because, as you've said, things do change and different scenarios arise. And I think until we know of those scenarios and are made aware of them, obviously, it's hard to respond in great detail. But what I would do is encourage everybody to engage with the relevant authorities or agencies and where their situation changes or where these difficult types of scenarios arise. We will, of course, try and work with them to try and find the most appropriate response and to to respond in the most compassionate way that we possibly can. gravity. waktu favourite. Voc针 laytroffs. I think we don't have a response. It's a opening of positive pronouns and what it is in the same way that measures that how ini configurations play. I think to put the table and the speaker in theIR panel in tech, if it is given the primary problema for them. Just to really welcome what you are saying here this morning. And I will make sure that those are followed up. But at the end of the day, the pandemic may subside in other countries or it may spike here or subside here , and if that's the conditions under which they're allowed to remain, the orders are like sort of damages hanging over them. And that is a real tragedy and a pity. human beings that have a huge contribution to make to our society and in the end of the day I think that that needs to be resolved outside of the question of the COVID-19 crisis because we don't want to lose valuable workers, valuable people from our society and push them back into some place that they don't feel safe and that's a wider philosophical and long-term question but I think it is important that we take that into account because if we're just relying on the conditions of the COVID-19 crisis for them to be allowed to remain then for them it is still a huge stressful factor in their lives albeit very welcome that you're saying that very emphatically here this morning and yesterday we still have a problem for them in the long term. Just to Minister to conclude Sariana. Again to respond I mean I do think we have a robust system in place at the same time it's a system and I think like any others that can always improve and I think that's part of a wider discussion and engagement perhaps that we need to have after this but again just to reassure and to suppose reiterate my comments yesterday we will continue to take the same pragmatic and compassionate approach that we've taken throughout all of this pandemic and just to reassure those and if I could again stress something that I mentioned yesterday we are obviously rolling out a new vaccine programme and I wanted to absolutely say on the record that nobody who brings themselves forward or provides any information that information won't be passed on to to any other type of immigration services or otherwise it's really important that people come forward and that they get this vaccine and it includes those who are going through the international protection system as well. Thank you.