Migration and Citizenship: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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John Clendennen (FG), Offaly

I start by sending my sympathies to the families and loved ones of father and daughter, Mihai Chinez and Denisa Mihaela Chinez, who tragically lost their lives in a workplace accident in Banagher on Monday. It has left an entire community sad and in shock at a very difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.
Migration and citizenship are issues that we all need to be able to have an open, mature and honest conversation about, and not name calling across the Chamber. We can recognise and welcome contributions that many people who come to Ireland make to our economy and communities. At the same time, we can acknowledge that migration needs to be properly managed with appropriate rules governing our immigration system that are actively enforced. Those two things are not contradictory. Ireland must always remain an open and welcoming country, and a place of compassion, fairness and opportunity. Openness must go hand in hand with order, accountability and public confidence.
People have come here from across the world and are working in hospitals, nursing homes, transport, technology and agriculture. We also have industries that need more resources, such as the shortage of heavy goods vehicle, HGV, and bus mechanics. We have an obligation to identify where genuine skill shortages need to be addressed and allow our economy to recruit those needed, while at the same time protecting our employment standards and the opportunities for those already living here.
Public confidence cannot be taken for granted. Our confidence in legal migration is inevitably linked to public confidence in our wider immigration and international protection systems.
Rules should mean something, be adhered to and enforced. The recent reform of our migration system now means that enhanced identity and security screening, biometric registration as well as clearer timelines on applications are implemented. It is fair but firm and this is the right approach. A person who genuinely needs international protection should not have to spend years waiting for an answer. Equally, where it is found that a person does not have a right to stay in Ireland, that decision must lead to action.
I have raised in the past the issue of foreign nationals who commit serious criminal offences in this country. My position is clear on that. They should face justice, just like any Irish national who commits a crime. People who come to Ireland must obey the laws, work, raise families and contribute meaningfully to our society and should be treated with respect and fairness but we must be capable of responding robustly to those who commit serious crime.
I return to the word "confidence". The public must have confidence in our immigration system. Confidence comes from and is facilitated by strong communication. This Government must communicate clearly and regularly, with identified metrics that can give us timelines and trends in relation to how these initiatives are unfolding for the benefit of our society. In my own county of Offaly recently, there were rumours of an IPAS centre being opened in a very rural area. I engaged with the Minister of State and it was firmly put to bed very quickly that there were no such plans but information suggesting otherwise had travelled quickly and caused concern. We see this today in relation to housing allocations, voting rights, and economic benefits and we really need to get a handle on this so that the facts are out there. My priority throughout this process has been simple. Communities are entitled to accurate information and legitimate concerns deserve answers. We must strive to never let speculation replace facts. We cannot allow myths, misinformation or disinformation to become a substitute for the facts.
Irish citizenship is of enormous value. For generations, Irish people have travelled to countries all across the globe. We know what migration means for both sides and today people come here to build their lives in our communities. I understand the eight-year rule that the Minister is introducing but I would ask him to give consideration to some individuals who have been in the system, who have made Ireland their home and who are now finding that they will have to extend their time.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30