Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:41. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to assist undocumented Brazilians resident here. [15526/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 30 March 2017
Ceisteanna (41)
Freagraí scríofa
I am on record in the House many times previously, most recently on 16 February 2017, as saying that I have no plans to introduce a general regularisation scheme for those who are currently undocumented in the State. Any such proposal could give rise to very large, unpredictable and potentially very costly impacts across the full range of public and social services. Furthermore, there may well be significant implications for the operation of the Common Travel Area, particularly in the context of Britain withdrawing from the European Union. Any proposal in this regard would have to be very carefully considered. It is important to recognise that in most cases a person becomes undocumented through their own actions by making the choice to remain in Ireland without immigration permission as opposed to the alternative of leaving the State. It is always open to persons in an undocumented situation to present their case on its individual merits to the immigration authorities. Such cases would be carefully considered before a decision is made and it is reasonable for the State to expect that the affected persons would respect that decision what ever that may be.