Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Immigrant Workers.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

57 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice the reason that, at the London meeting of the EC Ad Hoc Group on Immigration, in November 1992, Ireland vetoed proposals to allow families of immigrant workers from outside of the EC to be reunited with the immigrant workers already in EC countries; if she will give details of the Government's policy regarding the reunification of families of immigrant workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

It is not correct to say that proposals on family reunification as described by the Deputy were vetoed by Ireland.

The position is that Ministers with responsibility for immigration considered proposals in November last concerning non-binding principles in this area. The harmonisation principles are confined to family reunification in respect of persons who are not nationals of a member state but who are lawfully resident within the territory of a member state on a basis which affords them an expectation of permanent or long term residence.

I should make it absolutely clear that the Government favours the concept of family reunification for non-community nationals living legally in the Community. The then Government's concerns, expressed against the backdrop of mounting unemployment figures both at home and throughout the community, related to inclusion of a reference in the non-binding principles of a right of access to the labour market to those covered by the resolution without mention of any access to other social facilities such as education, social welfare payments, language training etc. The Government did not veto the resolution and it is incorrect to say that it did. My predecessor merely expressed concern along the lines outlined above.