Driver License Issue Included in Dail Meeting on Issues Affecting Returning Irish Citizens
Tow of our committe members, Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland, made a presentation at a cross-party briefing on “Issues Affecting Returning Irish Citizens” in Leinster House (Dáil Éireann) on Tuesday 14th October (1pm).
Ciaran Staunton provided the below report:
Despite other meetings taking place simultaneously, and it being over lunchtime, nearly 20 members attended our briefing (list of attendees below).
We are grateful to Johnny Guirke TD (Meath West), also a member of the Irish–US Drivers License Exchange Campaign, for organising this briefing and inviting us to speak.
Our briefing covered a broad range of issues, including:
US–Irish driver’s license exchange
Recognition of foreign qualifications and experience gained abroad (e.g., returning teachers and nurses)
Voting rights for Irish citizens living abroad
Planning and housing challenges
Non-Irish spousal/de facto visas
Education and third-level fees for children of Irish-born citizens
We addressed the issues raised and referred to the many emails Ciaran received in advance, which outlined individuals’ circumstances. We also highlighted the most recent report commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, “Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants” (the Indecon Report), calling for its review and timely implementation.
We were very encouraged that the members who attended committed to advancing some of our recommendations, including the establishment of a Cross-Party Oireachtas Committee on Returning Irish Citizens.
Some TDs and Ministers were unable to attend the briefing, so we met with them afterwards and fully briefed them. These included Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien, Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Mary Lou McDonald, Leader of Sinn Féin, Frances Black, Senator, and others.
We met with Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Richmond, who reiterated their support for the initiative, emphasised that it is included in the Programme for Government, and expressed their desire to get the first States processed as soon as possible. We are extremely grateful for their enduring commitment, and that of the Irish Foreign Ministry, to ensuring better outcomes for returning citizens.
The following members of the Oireachtas (or their representative(s)) attended our Dáil briefing
Deputy Johnny Guirke T.D Meath West.
Deputy Darren O'Rourke T.D Meath East
Deputy Rose Conway Walsh T.D Mayo
Deputy Paul Lawless T.D Mayo
Deputy Johnny Mythen T.D Wexford
Deputy Louis O' Hara T.D. Galway East
Deputy Mairead Farrell T.D Galway West
Deputy Martin Kenny T.D Sligo-Leitrim
Deputy Marian Harkin T.D Sligo-Leitrim ( staff member)
Deputy Matt Carthy T.D Cavan- Monaghan
Deputy Maurice Quinlivan T.D Limerick City
Deputy Pat Buckley T.D Cork East
Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin Wicklow Wexford
Minister Neale Richmonds staff
Deputy Ann Graves Dubin Fingal
Deputy Donna McGettigan T.D Clare
Senator Joanne Collins Limerick
Our issues were raised on Dail Floor during leader’s question time on Tuesday 14th October - as noted below:
Deputy Darren O'Rourke Meath East
In the audiovisual room this afternoon, a briefing organised by Deputy Guirke was addressed by Ciaran Staunton and Karen McHugh* on barriers faced by Irish citizens returning from abroad. They raised a range of barriers, such as access to driving licenses and planning permission, but the issue I want to raise that relates to the economy and trade is the dearth of teachers, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals and the recognition of nursing qualifications from abroad. Is that something the Taoiseach can address to allow people to come home and contribute to the economy in the public sector or private sector?
Deputy O’Rourke raised an important issue. The qualifications issue pertains to some of the regulatory bodies in specific areas, namely the Medical Council, the Teaching Council – it may not like me saying this but I think it can be quite conservative – and some of the other bodies such as CORU. I have been in touch with the Minister for Health, and the Department is moving on CORU. It says it is moving on therapists, for example. It is interesting. It has taken too long to register people who are clearly well qualified and have good international qualifications in speech and language, physio or occupational therapy and it could be a year or a year and a half before they are recognised here. We must be much more nimble. Then there are things like driving licences and all of that. There is a very legitimate issue in terms of people returning to live in Ireland from overseas and how we can reduce the barriers to them reintegrating into society and facilitating that. ENDS.
NOTES
If you send us the name of your city or town and county in Ireland, we will provide you with a list of TDs in your county or constituency, so you can correspond with them directly.
Most counties/constituencies have three or four TDs, and you can contact all of them to encourage their involvement in the issue.
Nothing motivates a TD more than receiving emails from their own constituents. As Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.”
