This afternoon.
In the Dáil.
Green Party TD Joe O’Brien raised the case of undocumented healthcare workers in Ireland.
Specifically, a case of two such workers, one of whom had a direct message for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Mr O’Brien told the chamber:
“In many respects, I think, the virus and the State’s response to it has provided it with a human rights audit.
“Who’s health protection needs and health rights is the State responding to the slowest? It’s asylum seekers, it’s people in residential settings. Who are we leaving behind? It’s Travellers, it’s Roma, it’s international students, and it’s undocumented workers.
“So few of us are aware of the fact that so many of our frontline workers in this battle against Covid-19 are undocumented workers. People unrecognised, unacknowledged and unappreciated by Official Ireland.
“I spoke to two undocumented workers recently and, to some extent, I want to bring their voices in here today. Their names are Debra and Shiron. These are their real names.
“Both are, now as we speak, live-in care workers with elderly women. They are cocooning with these ladies and tending to their every need during this crisis.
“Both Debra and Shiron have worked in the centre in Ireland for over a decade, working in the shadows but providing an essential care service.
“There are likely to be many hundreds, if not thousands, of people in similar situations all over the country where undocumented migrants are caring for elderly people, helping them to cocoon.
“And this is just one sector. But going forward, and developing our response to Covid-19, we simply cannot have people who are in the shadows or left behind. For their own sake, for their rights, for the sake of developing thorough and robust set of systems to allow, to eliminate and keep out Covid-19.
“But also, quite simply, because it’s only just and fair that those who contribute so much in this battle are allowed to be full members of society.
“Debra asked me to, and I quote, ‘Tell the Taoiseach that we are frontline workers, we can’t go out, we are looking after our ladies, we are working all day, all night, 24/7 and we love them like our family‘.
“Debra said she knows hundreds of other women from her home country, working in similar situations, around Ireland
“The ask is simple: can you set up a scheme, regularisation scheme, whereby undocumented people in Ireland can view a set of fair and reasonable criteria that they need to satisfy in order to be regularised.
“And it’s not just me who’s calling for this. Chambers of Commerce Ireland, unions, National Youth Council, National Women’s Council, as well, there’s quite a list of bodies calling for this.”
Watch the Dáil proceedings live here
Top pic: Rollingnews
What about the section of the farming community who live alone and are aged over 70
all over Ireland, where’s the Green Party’s response on this and how do they square the
Virus morality rate on the elderly who died and the consequences where they were subject
to charges under Harneys so called “Fair Deal Scheme
You are off your rocker altogether.
Is an “undocumented worker” an illegal immigrant? i.e. someone from outside the EU that should have a work permit, but doesn’t.
You already know the answer to that is yes. Like in the US where there are thousands of undocumented workers, Ireland also has thousands and they usually work in low paid jobs.
Some of them came to Ireland on student visas, others had residency permits cancelled because of the breakdown of a marriage, and some came with nothing, but needed to earn a living and send money home.
Some arrived with young children who had no choice and having being educated through the years, many have come of age. very smart young men and women who feel Irish, and who can’t avail of third level University options so they just watch their friends they grew up with go off and love their best life while they take up an underpaid job like their parents and try survive as best they can
and what of the imported south American slave labour/ language school/ slum landlord raw material?
At the moment they are entitled to the Covid19 payment of €350 and as their language Visas only entitle them to work 20hrs per week that is the equivalent of €17.50 per week.
Per hour I should say.
When the colleges and schools are closed entitlement of their working hours is full time which is 40 hours per week.. REF.. INIS. Ie
350/40= 8.75 per hour to be exact.
Ahern seeks deal on undocumented
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s historic address to the US Congress could help the cause of undocumented Irish immigrants in the country…
Thu, May 1, 2008, 01:00
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s historic address to the US Congress could help the cause of undocumented Irish immigrants in the country, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said today.
Mr Ahern confirmed he will hold talks today in the US to press for a bilateral deal with the US government on the issue.
He will meet senior politicians on Capitol Hill today following up on the positive response to the Taoiseach’s address to the joint houses of Congress yesterday.
Campaigners have appealed for a deal to protect the status of the estimated 30,000 undocumented Irish immigrants who have made new lives in the US.
Minister Ahern said: “Later today, I will be meeting with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and with leaders on Capitol Hill.
“Essentially my task will be to find out how soon can we pick up the pieces from the efforts made at Congress to bring in comprehensive legislation which would remedy the situation.”
Yesterday the Taoiseach used his Washington speech to make a case for undocumented Irish immigrants.
He drew comparisons with how the successful Irish economy had drawn migrants to Ireland‘s own shores.
“The New Ireland – once a place so many left – is now a place to which so many come,” the Taoiseach said.
“These newcomers to our society have enriched the texture of our land and of our lives. We are working, as are you, to welcome those who contribute to our society as they lift up their own lives, while we also address the inevitable implications for our society, our culture, our community and our way of life.
“So we are profoundly aware of those challenges as we ask you to consider the case of our undocumented Irish immigrant community in the United States today.
“We hope you will be able to find a solution to their plight that would enable them to regularise their status and open to them a path to permanent residency.”
Many of them who came here as student and married to EU member , by the way got Stamp4 but Lost status in Ireland. Because their marriage is not successful family life and minister doubts on them that their marriage is a kind of convenience to get regularization. In this case , department of justice not giving them any path to get stamp or visa to stay in Ireland .
Aa I am suffering,Came here 2007 as a student Visa . At present I don’t have No Visa , No Money, No Work , No pandemic payment. But currently paying motor tax and car insurance though not driving by curfew longer. Paying Monthly above 40 euro to the VHI ( health insurance) year after year. Rent ……,,
Many of them who came here as student and married to EU member , by the way got Stamp4 but Lost status in Ireland. Because their marriage is not successful family life and minister minister doubts on them that their marriage is a kind of convenience to get regularization. In this case , department of justice not giving them any path to get stamp or visa to stay in Ireland .
Aa I am suffering,Came here 2007 as a student, No Visa , No Money, No Work , No pandemic payment. But currently paying motor tax and car insurance though not driving by curfew longer. Paying Monthly above 40 euro to the VHI ( health insurance) year after year. Rent ……,,