There is much to ponder in the discussion paper on immigration and residence in Ireland, published last week by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It addresses the reality that people wish to come to Ireland to work and share in the benefits of our thriving economy. More than 100,000 people from outside Europe have migrated here to work over the past five years.
The number seeking asylum mushroomed over the past decade, growing from negligible numbers to about 9,000 annually in the early years of this century. That figure has now fallen by over one-third. A significant number are in reality economic migrants who are unable to come here to look for work under the existing system and are therefore afforded little choice but to try to come in through the asylum system, which became clogged as a result.
There is therefore a crying need for a comprehensive policy to deal with the demand of non-EU nationals to come to work, or live with family members who already have jobs here. Various schemes are possible, including a green-card system, a points system for specific skill-holders and a quota system for different countries. The discussion document does not plump for any specific option but instead proposes framework legislation allowing the Minister for Justice, or other relevant Ministers, to draw up schemes to meet specific needs.
It also addresses the question of family reunification, making it clear that spouses and dependent children can join workers here, and offering positive consideration of the cases of older children and those in non-marital relationships. It proposes an additional measure to ease the path of short-term visitors, suggesting a financial guarantee of their support from their hosts here. This should be especially welcome for those immigrant workers who experienced problems when close relatives wished to visit on occasions such as the birth of a child.
The document raises, for the first time, the need to integrate various areas of public policy relating to immigration, including its impact on the demand for education, health, housing and other public services. Other issues addressed include study visas and the growing demand for education services for non-nationals and the need to ensure that the providers of such services meet required standards.
The objectives of policy in this area range from guaranteeing the security of the State to protecting human rights, and providing fair and transparent procedures. The demands of all these objectives may not be easy to reconcile and the document warns that the protections afforded to migrants may not be the same as those available to citizens.
The issue of immigration into Ireland is a new one in public discussion and so far it has generated more heat than light. This document offers a welcome basis on which to have a positive and productive public debate prior to the drafting of long-overdue legislation.