Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
520. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice when she will announce the precise terms of the proposed scheme for regularising the status of undocumented workers; the timeframe for the operation of the scheme; if primary legislation will be required to give effect to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54121/21]
View answer521. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if the proposed scheme for regularising the status of undocumented workers will be inclusive for those who may have been documented at some point within the four year or three-year timeframe but are currently undocumented; if the scheme includes those who have been working documented for four years or three years to the present but on a visa stamp 1 inferior to the stamp 4 available with the undocumented scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54122/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together.
The Government committed to introducing new pathways to status regularisation within 18 months of its formation. My Justice Plan 2021 contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents who must meet specified criteria to regularise their status.
The scheme will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and reside in the State and to become part of mainstream Irish society rather than living on its margins. Successful applicants will receive an immigration permission, access to the labour market and will be able to begin the process of becoming Irish citizens, should they wish to do so. The objective is to ensure that the scheme is as inclusive as possible and my Department has conducted a targeted consultation on the proposed scheme which has provided a valuable opportunity to hear from those affected by the proposed approach to the scheme.
Following the consultation process, my Department continues to work to finalise the details, including eligibility considerations and qualifying criteria, and also to design and manage the practical aspects to enable applications to be made and processed as efficiently as possible. The specific qualifying criteria will be guided by, among other things, the learning from previous regularisation schemes, such as the 2018 Student Scheme, and schemes operated by other EU Member States.
We are now working to finalise the details for the scheme, including eligibility considerations and qualifying criteria, with a view to bringing a proposal to Government and to publish the details of the scheme before the end of this year.
As this is an administrative scheme that will operate under my executive authority as Minister for Justice, primary legislation is not required.
