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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Deportation of healthcare workers

Summary

Deputy Gannon raised the case of healthcare workers from Zimbabwe facing deportation during the pandemic and asked whether this was the right time for such action. The Taoiseach said he did not know the individual cases but acknowledged broader policy issues on migration and deportation.

I will change the issue slightly. We made international headlines once again this weekend, and not in a positive way, when CNN ran a story entitled: "They saved lives during the pandemic - now they're facing deportation from Ireland". The story related to two of our healthcare workers from Zimbabwe who are facing deportation. Some 160 people in direct provision are currently working in the healthcare system with a sword of Damocles hanging above their head. Given the fact that we are going through a pandemic, that we said we are all in this together, that we all suffer together, is now not the time to draw a line under that and to stop the deportations of people who are here who contribute to the healthcare system? It is very important that we intervene and ensure that people who have helped us through this time can stay here and become part of this Republic.

Comment on this

In the context of the pandemic, I am not quite sure how people can be deported, given the various restrictions and rules that govern it. On Deputy Gannon's point about those working in the healthcare service, I do not know the individual cases, but Ireland does not deport too many people in any given year. The Catherine Day report reveals that. There are policy issues that emanate from that in terms of how best to deal with these situations and those fall for consideration by the Government and, ultimately, by the Oireachtas as well in terms of how we manage migration. If Deputy Gannon has the details of those two cases I will follow them up, and ask that they would be followed up, because I do not believe that people should be deported in the context of Covid-19 to red zone areas or where the virus is in a much worse situation than is now the case here.

Comment on this

That concludes Questions on Promised Legislation. The 13 other Deputies, including the leaders, who have indicated will be given priority tomorrow.

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