Migration and Citizenship: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Danny Healy-Rae (IND), Kerry

My uncles and aunts had to go to America to work. There was nothing here for them in the late fifties and sixties, and they gave all their lives there. I appreciate people who come here to work and are working in healthcare, hospitality and the construction industries. The country needs workers with proper visas.
The main issue that I am hearing every day in my office, and again today, is from people who want to work here but who are having difficulties renewing or getting work permits or visas. There used to be an immigration officer whom a person could meet to discuss a visa or permit application, but that has all gone online and it is nearly impossible to get an update. There is a slowing down of everything for those who want to stay here to work. The Government needs to address that issue and not confuse it with anything else.
I am constantly being contacted by employers in the construction and hospitality industries who are trying to retain staff and have issues with their work visas. The system needs to be simplified. We should not be making people jump through hoops to get their work visas.
A lot of people were brought to Killarney and packed into asylum centres against the wishes of local people. It hurt local people very badly.

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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