Mayo native to address Oireachtas meeting on issues affecting returning Irish emigrants
AN all party meeting on returning Irish emigrants is taking place in Dáil Éireann today.
Mayo native Ciaran Staunton, Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, US, and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland will address the meeting, taking place at 1 p.m. in the AV Room, Dáil Eireann.
People returning home to Ireland face numerous obstacles, from driving licences to planning permission for homes.
The emigrant lobby say Ireland’s message to its diaspora should be clear and welcoming - “You are not starting over, you’re coming home.”
Over the past five years, more than 150,000 Irish emigrants (returning Irish citizens) have returned home to live in Ireland, many accompanied by their foreign-born children and spouses.
The majority are highly skilled, qualified, and experienced, representing a significant social and economic asset to the State.The return of Irish citizens represents both a moral obligation and an economic opportunity.
The primary obstacles they face are largely administrative and procedural rather than structural, and can be addressed through better coordination, communication, and policy alignment rather than legislative overhaul.
Areas that Mr. Staunton and Ms. McHugh will refer to at the meeting include the following:
* Undocumented Irish in the US
* US Irish driving licence exchange
* Application of the Habitual Residence Condition (HRC)
* Issues arising for non-EEA spouses and family members
* Fees for third-level education
* Recognition of foreign qualifications and experience
* Planning Permission for returning sons and daughters on family land
They will be presenting a five-point ask to the meeting:
1. Implementation of Indecon Report Recommendations: Immediate adoption of the recommendations contained in the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants (2018).
2. Dedicated Oireachtas Committee: Establishment of a dedicated Oireachtas Committee to focus on issues concerning returning Irish emigrants.
3. Designated Departmental Contacts: Appointment of a named contact person within each relevant Government department to specialise in supporting returning emigrants, ensuring clearer communication, accountability, and faster resolution of complex cases.
4. All-Party Discussion: Facilitate a cross-party discussion in the Dáil Chamber on the issues highlighted today.
5. Cross-Party Ad-Hoc Committee on Returning Irish: Formation of a Cross-Party Ad-Hoc Committee on Returning Irish, similar to the model previously.
Issues affecting returning emigrants have been raised locally in Mayo, with the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council yesterday (Monday) hearing an impassioned speech from Belmullet Councillor Gerry Coyle on the issues affecting people returning home.
He cited the example of the daughter of a man who had to move away from north Mayo having to withdraw a planning application as the council said she had no links to the area. A person whose father was born and baptised in the area, he said, but she is found to have no links.
The people's DNA was to be found in every field, and when they left they had sent millions back home.
Councillor Coyle said he himself has a grandchild in Chicago. Would they be asked to prove their links to Geesala?
He had never heard such rubbish, he said.
Councillor Coyle was roundly support by his colleagues on 'one of the most powerful speeches' to be given in the chamber.
Councillor Ger Deere was of the view that it was unconstitutional to insist on links to an area, saying they should be rolling out the red carpet to have young people come and build up their communities.