Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland made a presentation at a cross-party briefing on “Issues Affecting Returning Irish Citizens” in Leinster House on Tuesday, October 14.
Despite other meetings taking place simultaneously, and it being over lunchtime, nearly twenty members attended our briefing, Staunton and McHugh said in a statement.
"We are grateful to Johnny Guirke TD (Meath West), also a member of the Irish–U.S. Drivers License Exchange Campaign, for organising this briefing and inviting us to speak."
Staunton and McHugh said the briefing covered a broad range of issues, including: Recognition of foreign qualifications and experience gained abroad (e.g., returning teachers and nurses); voting rights for Irish citizens living abroad; U.S.–Irish driver’s license exchange; planning and housing challenges; non-Irish spousal/de facto visas and education and third-level fees for children of Irish-born citizens
Added the statement: "We addressed the issues raised and referred to the many emails Ciaran received in advance, which outlined individuals’ circumstances. We also highlighted the most recent report commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 'Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants' (the Indecon Report), calling for its review and timely implementation.
"We were very encouraged that the members who attended committed to advancing some of our recommendations, including the establishment of a Cross-Party Oireachtas Committee on Returning Irish Citizens.
"Some TDs and Ministers were unable to attend the briefing, so we met with them afterwards and fully briefed them. These included Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien, Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Mary Lou McDonald, Leader of Sinn Féin, Senator Frances Black, and others.
"We met with Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Richmond, who reiterated their support for the initiative, emphasised that it is included in the Programme for Government, and expressed their desire to get the first States processed as soon as possible. We are extremely grateful for their enduring commitment, and that of the Irish Foreign Ministry, to ensuring better outcomes for returning citizens."
According to the statement the members of the Oireachtas or their representatives who attended the briefing were Deputy Johnny Guirke T.D Meath West; Deputy Darren O'Rourke T.D Meath East; Deputy Rose Conway Walsh T.D Mayo; Deputy Paul Lawless T.D Mayo; Deputy Johnny Mythen T.D Wexford; Deputy Louis O' Hara T.D. Galway East; Deputy Mairead Farrell T.D Galway West; Deputy Martin Kenny T.D Sligo-Leitrim; Deputy Marian Harkin T.D Sligo-Leitrim ( staff member); Deputy Matt Carthy T.D Cavan- Monaghan; Deputy Maurice Quinlivan T.D Limerick City; Deputy Pat Buckley T.D Cork East; Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin Wicklow Wexford; Minister Neale Richmond (staff); Deputy Ann Graves Dublin Fingal; Deputy Donna McGettigan T.D Clare and Senator Joanne Collins Limerick.
The visiting group's issues were raised on the Dáil Floor during leader’s question time on Tuesday 14th October.
Said Deputy Darren O'Rourke of Meath East: "In the audiovisual room this afternoon, a briefing organised by Deputy Guirke was addressed by Ciaran Staunton and Karen Mc Hugh on barriers faced by Irish citizens returning from abroad.
"They raised a range of barriers, such as access to driving licenses and planning permission, but the issue I want to raise that relates to the economy and trade is the dearth of teachers, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals and the recognition of nursing qualifications from abroad. Is that something the Taoiseach can address to allow people to come home and contribute to the economy in the public sector or private sector?"
Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded: "Deputy O’Rourke raised an important issue. The qualifications issue pertains to some of the regulatory bodies in specific areas, namely the Medical Council, the Teaching Council – it may not like me saying this but I think it can be quite conservative – and some of the other bodies such as CORU.
"I have been in touch with the Minister for Health, and the Department is moving on CORU. It says it is moving on therapists, for example. It is interesting. It has taken too long to register people who are clearly well qualified and have good international qualifications in speech and language, physio or occupational therapy and it could be a year or a year and a half before they are recognised here. We must be much more nimble.
"Then there are things like driving licences and all of that. There is a very legitimate issue in terms of people returning to live in Ireland from overseas and how we can reduce the barriers to them reintegrating into society and facilitating that."
