Migration and Citizenship: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Paul Donnelly (SF), Dublin West

Sinn Féin wants a strong, fair and efficient migration system that serves the interests of the people of this State as well as those fleeing war and persecution. I have lived in Dublin West for the past 30 years and I have seen it grow into one of the most diverse communities in this State and it is our strength. However, we must move towards the management of our migration system on an all-Ireland basis. This makes absolute common sense and would have huge benefits in the long term. Migration is another incredibly important reason for having a Border poll as soon as possible. The British State should not have control of any part of our borders.
We want the management of migration and the issuing of work permits and student permissions to take into account issues such as the ability to house and integrate those who come here and the availability of public services. How can we be encouraging people to come here to work and study if housing is not available to them or it costs up to 60% or 70% of their wages? For some who are here, working and contributing, there are serious issues with the system. How can people be expected to support themselves when the State allows them to remain in Ireland but administrative delays prevent them from working? We have people who have followed every single rule. They have applied to renew their IRP and change their immigration permission before the existing permission expired but they have to wait for months for the underlying application to be processed while being left without the ability to earn an income. This is not merely an administrative inconvenience; it means lost wages, suspended employment, lost jobs and sometimes even the loss of a place to live. It is particularly concerning for international graduates who are trying to remain in the country lawfully and find employment in their field of study. These are people who we need in this country to keep our health services going.
The Minister previously indicated in reply to a parliamentary question that extensions of student conditions were granted only on compassionate grounds. However, a recent FOI response appears to indicate that extensions may also be available to graduates who are still seeking employment in their field. I ask the Minister to clarify this apparent discrepancy and publish clear and consistent guidance. We also cannot continue to rely on temporary bridging arrangements around Christmas and summertime. This is an issue of fairness. The State proposes an income threshold for citizenship but how can people demonstrate financial independence when the State's own processing delays prevent them from working? People who applied lawfully and on time should not be financially punished because their application is sitting in a queue. I call on the Minister to establish a permanent bridging mechanism that protects eligible applicants' employment rights while their applications are being processed. Administrative delays should never be a barrier to people's ability to work, pay their rent, support their families and, more importantly, contribute to Ireland. We need these people.

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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