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Dept of Social Protection: We won’t report illegal migrants who claim dole

  • 10-04-2020 10:36am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭


    The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection wishes to confirm that there are no plans in place to share data we receive as part of an immigrant’s application for a #COVID19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment with GNIB or the Department of Justice and Equality.
    These are extraordinary times, and all that, but still, there’s something jarring even for the likes of me, who’s the resident softie on immigration around here, about the state handing out cash to people who have no business being here in the first place.

    We’re not talking about asylum seekers here, or people who have migrated legitimately from other countries. We’re talking about people who don’t want their data shared with the Department of Justice or the immigration authorities because they are not supposed to be here and are at risk of being deported because they have broken the law.

    And we’re going to give them €350 a week.

    A few weeks ago, a similar announcement was made in respect of healthcare – but that one made sense. It basically said that if you were an illegal immigrant, then no questions would be asked about your status if you presented with Coronavirus symptoms. That’s perfectly sensible, because we don’t want people running around the country hiding their symptoms and infecting others – or dying – because of the fear they have of the immigration laws.

    But this social welfare announcement? That’s on another level entirely.
    Pandemic Unemployment Payment and undocumented workers

    We have received confirmation that people who are currently undocumented will be considered eligible for pandemic unemployment payments provided that they have a PPSN. The information will not be shared with the Department of Justice.

    Likewise, anyone who is undocumented and who believes that they have COVID-19 symptoms can engage with health services without concern about their immigration status.

    https://nascireland.org/know-your-rights/covid-19-social-welfare-updates

    https://gript.ie/social-protection-migrants-dole/

    Absolutely disgraceful and just makes a mockery of our welfare system. Fraudulent individuals making claims should be reported and dealt with appropriately with severe financial penalties and deportations.


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,001 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    Aiding and abetting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 367 ✭✭Horsebox9000


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    https://gript.ie/social-protection-migrants-dole/

    Absolutely disgraceful and just makes a mockery of our welfare system. Fraudulent individuals making claims should be reported and dealt with appropriately with severe financial penalties and deportations.

    Would have been easy to do If we were ok with the PSC card. Can't have it all


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Now this is a bad idea.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    why would they announce that? whatever about not reporting them, they're actively inviting illegal immigrants to further defraud the state by telling them its safe to do so. a strange move when the economy and public finances are on the floor.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,440 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    How can a illegal immigrant get the covid payment without evidence of being temporarily laid off? Surely you need to supply your pps number and details of employment for corroboration?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    Sardonicat wrote: »
    How can a illegal immigrant get the covid payment without evidence of being temporarily laid off? Surely you need to supply your pps number and details of employment for corroboration?

    A lot of illegals seems to be overstayers.

    See this recent article for an example;
    Most of those given permission to remain in Ireland are former language school students who continued working here after their visas expired.

    https://www.businesspost.ie/ireland/some-2000-undocumented-migrants-paid-350-fee-to-stay-here-af99f7fd

    So they would have their PPSN from when they first legally entered the state.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,440 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    A lot of illegals seems to be overstayers.

    See this recent article for an example;



    https://www.businesspost.ie/ireland/some-2000-undocumented-migrants-paid-350-fee-to-stay-here-af99f7fd

    So they would have their PPSN from when they first legally entered the state.

    But no record of employment when that PPS is keyed into the system!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    Sardonicat wrote: »
    But no record of employment when that PPS is keyed into the system!

    They’d still be registered with revenue. Revenue doesnt cross check with INIS for active PPSN without working permissions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,440 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    They’d still be registered with revenue. Revenue doesnt cross check With INIS for active PPSN without working permissions.

    Yes, but your social insurance deductions are recorded by dps. How do you think they know if you are entitled to claim on your contributions or not?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭Rodin


    And all the while taxpayers living in the north are being asked to refund the payment.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 211 ✭✭jimmyrustle


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    https://gript.ie/social-protection-migrants-dole/

    Absolutely disgraceful and just makes a mockery of our welfare system. Fraudulent individuals making claims should be reported and dealt with appropriately with severe financial penalties and deportations.

    I'd be fairly conservative on migration, but hear me out.

    It's like a low thousands number of people, claiming 350 per week, for likely somewhere between 6 weeks (optimistic) and 3 months.

    Likely mostly Chinese, Filipinos, South Americans, the bulk of them probably restaurant workers or delivery drivers.

    There are 6000 odd people in direct provision, the vast, vast majority with an illegitimate claim, getting 40 plus quid a week, plus the costs of keeping the DP system going, plus their legal fees, their medical cards, their travel, their appeals. And at the end of it all most of them will neither be granted asylum nor deported, but rather be issued a concession that they have been here so long in the system we will grant a subsidary residence to get them out of the way.

    Afterwards is the time for HAP and social housing. For some, a permanent transfer to the 205 p/w dole, or disability if they claim years in DP have left them too depressed to work.

    And don't even start me about the Roma gypsies. 90 plus percent unemployment rate, the majority in receipt of some sort of welfare.


    The lads in my two favourite Chinese that have been shut nearly a month now are welcome to the 350 tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,082 ✭✭✭enricoh


    I had to check the date of the opening post to see if it was the 1st of April.
    As a country we deserve everything we get for tolerating this crap. Why stop at e350 a week, sign em up for social housing as well, it'll help bankrupt this welfare state a bit faster!


  • Subscribers Posts: 42,171 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    the agenda is literally dripping off that website
    delivering news and analysis without the liberal filter

    nuff said


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,861 ✭✭✭Jinglejangle69


    I thought you have to be working it claim it as there has been people rejected as they are on job seekers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 211 ✭✭jimmyrustle


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    the agenda is literally dripping off that website



    nuff said

    God forbid we don't rely on such impartial outlets at Telesur English, the Morning Star and, let's be honest, the Irish Times.

    I'm always amazed at the IT New to the Parish stories where asylum seekers openly state that they haven't actually fled any sort of danger in their homeland. Seems you don't even have to bother embellishing a story.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    the agenda is literally dripping off that website



    nuff said

    This topic is worthy of discussion without regard to who delivered it to your attention.

    Derail attempt


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 211 ✭✭jimmyrustle


    I thought you have to be working it claim it as there has been people rejected as they are on job seekers.

    Most illegals working. Plenty with forms of permission to stay visas or EU free movement rights are not working.

    There are plenty of reforms needed to overhaul our welfare system.

    - Disability entitlements
    - Multi generational dole dependency
    - the direct provision racket
    - EU nationals coming here with no intent of working

    A few thousand Chinese fast food cooks and Brazillian delivery drivers who are now entitled to 350 quid for six to 12 weeks are very, very bottom of the pile.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,590 ✭✭✭rgossip30


    I'd be fairly conservative on migration, but hear me out.

    It's like a low thousands number of people, claiming 350 per week, for likely somewhere between 6 weeks (optimistic) and 3 months.

    Likely mostly Chinese, Filipinos, South Americans, the bulk of them probably restaurant workers or delivery drivers.

    There are 6000 odd people in direct provision, the vast, vast majority with an illegitimate claim, getting 40 plus quid a week, plus the costs of keeping the DP system going, plus their legal fees, their medical cards, their travel, their appeals. And at the end of it all most of them will neither be granted asylum nor deported, but rather be issued a concession that they have been here so long in the system we will grant a subsidary residence to get them out of the way.

    Afterwards is the time for HAP and social housing. For some, a permanent transfer to the 205 p/w dole, or disability if they claim years in DP have left them too depressed to work.

    And don't even start me about the Roma gypsies. 90 plus percent unemployment rate, the majority in receipt of some sort of welfare.


    The lads in my two favourite Chinese that have been shut nearly a month now are welcome to the 350 tbh.

    God bless ya you have a heart of gold .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    the agenda is literally dripping off that website



    nuff said

    Are they wrong? The information in the article came from an official source.

    https://twitter.com/welfare_ie/status/1245639097630085120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1245639097630085120&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgript.ie%2Fsocial-protection-migrants-dole%2F


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Where you from?


    End the english language school scam and cut funding to the bastard NGOs


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  • Subscribers Posts: 42,171 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Yurt! wrote: »
    This topic is worthy of discussion without regard to who delivered it to your attention.

    Derail attempt

    of course it is....

    but lets be clear and honest here .. there is NOWHERE in that welfare.ie tweet that says:

    "We’re talking about people who don’t want their data shared with the Department of Justice or the immigration authorities because they are not supposed to be here and are at risk of being deported because they have broken the law."

    the agenda of the author has extrapolated the above based on nothing but their own biases.

    This is nothing more than an opinion piece.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,440 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 211 ✭✭jimmyrustle


    rgossip30 wrote: »
    God bless ya you have a heart of gold .

    Let's assume 10,000 illegals claim this payment, and let's go to to the most pessimistic end of predictions, for 10 weeks.

    That's 35 million euro.

    https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/final-cost-of-providing-direct-provision-accommodation-for-asylum-seekers-will-be-60m-over-budget-956042.html

    Direct provision, in 2019, cost somewhere around 130 million. That doesn't count the welfare or legal payments.

    We took in, or are taking in, 5000 Syrian refugees, and are giving each family a house. The funds are mostly coming from the Rebuilding Ireland allocation.

    Our 100,000 long term unemployed take in 20 million per week, over a billion per year. Add on to that people on fraudulent disability, people who work a bare minimum of hours and get a top up from the social etc etc.


    Look at the real problems rather than some down on his luck Chinese lad who normally works 70 hours a week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    of course it is....

    but lets be clear and honest here .. there is NOWHERE in that welfare.ie tweet that says:

    "We’re talking about people who don’t want their data shared with the Department of Justice or the immigration authorities because they are not supposed to be here and are at risk of being deported because they have broken the law."

    the agenda of the author has extrapolated the above based on nothing but their own biases.

    This is nothing more than an opinion piece.

    No sh*t, but it completely undermines the purpose of our immigration system if people who shouldn't even have access to the labour market in the first instance, have invited themselves in and are content to stay without permission are being pretty much prompted into applying for welfare in a time of national crisis that will buckle our economy.

    As someone mentioned in the Twitter thread under the Department's announcement, Scott Morrison PM of Aus gently suggested now may be a good time for illegals to return to their home country, as they'll be prioritising Aus citizens and those with permission to reside in-country.

    I can't think of a fairer thing for a national leader to say.

    This is a conversation worth having.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    Sardonicat wrote: »
    The source says nothing about illegal immigrants.

    From NASC Ireland.
    Pandemic Unemployment Payment and undocumented workers

    We have received confirmation that people who are currently undocumented will be considered eligible for pandemic unemployment payments provided that they have a PPSN. The information will not be shared with the Department of Justice.

    Likewise, anyone who is undocumented and who believes that they have COVID-19 symptoms can engage with health services without concern about their immigration status.

    https://nascireland.org/know-your-rights/covid-19-social-welfare-updates


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 211 ✭✭jimmyrustle


    Yurt! wrote: »

    As someone mentioned in the Twitter thread under the Department's announcement, Scott Morrison PM of Aus gently suggested now may be a good time for illegals to return to their home country, as they'll be prioritising Aus citizens and those with permission to reside in-country.

    I can't think of a fairer thing for a national leader to say.

    Australia is another country full of native welfare lifers that would do well to have a strictly criteria'd amnesty. I'd like to see him get some unemployable bogan named Jaxon to man a 7 11 at 3am.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Australia is another country full of native welfare lifers that would do well to have a strictly criteria'd amnesty. I'd like to see him get some unemployable bogan named Jaxon to man a 7 11 at 3am.

    This ain't about Jaxon or Jacinta.

    It's not credible or sustainable that someone that has elected to ignore immigration laws is invited to apply for welfare at a time when we're staring into the economic abyss. They'll be on the flight home if sh*t really hits the fan and it's our country to look after whatever comes.

    This crisis is expensive enough, and this is really one of those times where we should use that awful phrase of "looking after our own" first.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    Yurt! wrote: »
    This ain't about Jaxon or Jacinta.

    It's not credible or sustainable that someone that has elected to ignore immigration laws is invited to apply for welfare.

    This crisis is expensive enough, and this is really one of those times where we should use that awful phrase of "looking after our own" first.

    If someone is here illegally and no longer has work then what would you suggest the State do with them? Deport them, give them accommodation and 3 meals a day, etc etc?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭CrankyHaus


    End the english language school scam and cut funding to the bastard NGOs

    What a disgusting suggestion!

    Some of our most vulnerable important people, already on massive state pensions, need their income from visa mill English colleges to make ends meet stay on the pigs back.

    Like former FF Minister for Education Batt O'Keefe, President of Eden College shut down by immigration officials.

    In fairness to Batt, he says he was just an advisor on policy with no involvement in day to day running of the college and nobody was more surprised than him at reported irregularities there. After all his son was also the accountant so how could he have known anything about the place.

    The fact that Eden College was only closed after it's sister college in England was named and shamed in a BBC Panorama Investigation shows just how our Eagle-eyed authorities are policing this sector with the utmost vigilance.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/eden-college-owner-denies-trousering-student-fees-1.1807006


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,371 ✭✭✭Phoebas


    Yurt! wrote: »
    No sh*t, but it completely undermines the purpose of our immigration system if people who shouldn't even have access to the labour market in the first instance, have invited themselves in and are content to stay without permission are being pretty much prompted into applying for welfare in a time of national crisis that will buckle our economy.

    As someone mentioned in the Twitter thread under the Department's announcement, Scott Morrison PM of Aus gently suggested now may be a good time for illegals to return to their home country, as they'll be prioritising Aus citizens and those with permission to reside in-country.

    I can't think of a fairer thing for a national leader to say.

    This is a conversation worth having.

    That doesn't make any sense at all; it just isn't a real world suggestion that illegals could or would return home in the middle of a global pandemic.

    We need to keep our eye on the ball and that is that people are staying in unless it's necessary to be out and people aren't left destitute during the crisis.

    If some relatively small amount of money goes into the wrong hands in the meantime what of it? We can organise a good old immigrant hunt after the crisis has passed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 Where you from?


    If someone is here illegally and no longer has work then what would you suggest the State do with them? Deport them, give them accommodation and 3 meals a day, etc etc?

    Clover hill prison until such time as deportation can be carried out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    If someone is here illegally and no longer has work then what would you suggest the State do with them? Deport them, give them accommodation and 3 meals a day, etc etc?

    I know this sounds hard hearted but they know where the airport is.

    We really can't afford to pay for people we didn't give permission to be here in the first instance. They are fully aware of their status.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,772 ✭✭✭Montage of Feck


    The €350 is only to be payed to those who can't work due to covid-19 afaik, to me that's fair enough if it's being payed to people who came here to work. It's the blatent chancers that here to unashamedly fleece our generous welfare system should be dealt with first.

    🙈🙉🙊



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,022 Mod ✭✭✭✭wiggle16


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    They’d still be registered with revenue. Revenue doesnt cross check with INIS for active PPSN without working permissions.

    What exactly is this supposed to mean?

    There's no such thing as being "registered" with Revenue. You either have a job or source of income that Revenue know about, or you don't.

    Meaning that you cannot claim the covid-19 payment without having been let go from an active employment or without evidence of self-employment. In which case you will have been paying tax like everyone else here.

    And if you have been employed and paying tax USC and PRSI then you are entitled to the payment irrespective of whether or not you are legally entitled to be in Ireland or not. So you can stop making out that illegal migrants are getting through some loop hole that the department have deliberately left wide open to them. They're not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    wiggle16 wrote: »

    And if you have been employed and paying tax USC and PRSI then you are entitled to the payment irrespective of whether or not you are legally entitled to be in Ireland or not. So you can stop making out that illegal migrants are getting through some loop hole that the department have deliberately left wide open to them. They're not.

    To the letter, habitual residence is a condition of accessing welfare. See link:

    https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html

    "If you do not have a legal right of residence in this State, you will not be regarded as habitually resident"

    Why this is being ignored in this instance (and perhaps in others) is worthy of enquiry.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    wiggle16 wrote: »
    What exactly is this supposed to mean?

    There's no such thing as being "registered" with Revenue. You either have a job or source of income that Revenue know about, or you don't.

    Meaning that you cannot claim the covid-19 payment without having been let go from an active employment or without evidence of self-employment. In which case you will have been paying tax like everyone else here.

    And if you have been employed and paying tax USC and PRSI then you are entitled to the payment irrespective of whether or not you are legally entitled to be in Ireland or not. So you can stop making out that illegal migrants are getting through some loop hole that the department have deliberately left wide open to them. They're not.

    I meant that if someone is registered as paying tax with revenue this information is not shared with INIS. Revenue don’t care about your immigration status.

    The department of social protection took to social media to assure people that if they’re illegal and claim, this information won’t be shared with the relevant immigration authorities.

    Now, why the hell are we paying welfare to people who don’t even have the legal right to be in the country?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,440 ✭✭✭✭Sardonicat


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    I meant that if someone is registered as paying tax with revenue this information is not shared with INIS. Revenue don’t care about your immigration status.

    The department of social protection took to social media to assure people that if they’re illegal and claim, this information won’t be shared with the relevant immigration authorities.

    Now, why the hell are we paying welfare to people who don’t even have the legal right to be in the country?

    As has been repeatedly pointed out to you, unless there is evidence that you've been let go from a job as a result of covid 19, you can claim away but you won't get anything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,126 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    Most illegals working. Plenty with forms of permission to stay visas or EU free movement rights are not working.

    There are plenty of reforms needed to overhaul our welfare system.

    - Disability entitlements
    - Multi generational dole dependency
    - the direct provision racket
    - EU nationals coming here with no intent of working

    A few thousand Chinese fast food cooks and Brazillian delivery drivers who are now entitled to 350 quid for six to 12 weeks are very, very bottom of the pile.

    Oh YEAH! and will FG, the supposed party of the worker, do anything about this? LOL! LOL!

    I know many, layed off, better off on this E350 payment, than they were, when working! Jesus this is priceless when you think about it! Thats what you get with spineless and inept populism up the top!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Sardonicat wrote: »
    As has been repeatedly pointed out to you, unless there is evidence that you've been let go from a job as a result of covid 19, you can claim away but you won't get anything.

    As has been covered in the thread, a better question would be if it is long-standing elaborated government policy that illegals / overstayers / undocumented (however you want to cut it) are not entitled for consideration for welfare, why on earth are they being invited to do so?

    Is this a recent policy volte face, and does it have a legal basis?

    This is one of those things that would be worthy of debate in the Dáil to be honest.

    I'd be of the strong opinion that in dire economic circumstances such as this, the only commitments we should be making are to our own citizens and those with permission to be here, not to do those who quite frankly invited themselves in.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,280 ✭✭✭✭Eric Cartman


    So at a time when our welfare state is more pressed than ever and were running out of money head first into a recession, we decide to ignore the already massive elephant in the room of immigrant welfare fraud.

    Anyone who thinks FG are right wing , smush your poe face against the glass and look in the window to see whats going on here. Nothing vaugely conservative about them


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,039 ✭✭✭Jizique


    Idbatterim wrote: »
    Oh YEAH! and will FG, the supposed party of the worker, do anything about this? LOL! LOL!

    I know many, layed off, better off on this E350 payment, than they were, when working! Jesus this is priceless when you think about it! Thats what you get with spineless and inept populism up the top!

    Wait till SF get in and give 350 to everyone employed or not, plus no need to pay rent or mortgage as you will never be evicted


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,022 Mod ✭✭✭✭wiggle16


    Yurt! wrote: »
    As has been covered in the thread, a better question would be if it is long-standing elaborated government policy that illegals / overstayers / undocumented (however you want to cut it) are not entitled for consideration for welfare, why on earth are they being invited to do so?

    Is this a recent policy volte face, and does it have a legal basis?

    This is one of those things that would be worthy of debate in the Dáil to be honest.

    I'd be of the strong opinion that in dire economic circumstances such as this, the only commitments we should be making are to our own citizens and those with permission to be here, not to do those who quite frankly invited themselves in.

    The link you posted states quite clearly that habitual residence is not defined in Irish law. The idea therefore that the department is doung something illegal is a smokescreen for what you really have a problem with here, I think.

    Would you rather immigrants didn't work, legally or illegally, and lived off the state via direct provision or otherwise? Or would you rather they worked and paid tax until their status is established?

    How would you like it? You can't have it both ways.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    wiggle16 wrote: »
    The link you posted states quite clearly that habitual residence is not defined in Irish law. The idea therefore that the department is doung something illegal is a smokescreen for what you really have a problem with here, I think.

    Would you rather immigrants didn't work, legally or illegally, and lived off the state via direct provision or otherwise? Or would you rather they worked and paid tax until their status is established?

    How would you like it? You can't have it both ways.

    I'd rather that we had a functioning coherent immigration system. That's a realistic prospect and doesn't form part of your either or proposition. I'm not an absolutist, I recognise we'll never fully root-out illegal immigration, but it needs to be minimised to the greatest extent possible. I believe it's a net-negative for society (and I'm not speaking of orderly legal migration).

    Habitual residency being legally defined or not, it's elaborated long-standing government policy that illegal immigrants shall not have access to welfare. There are powerful moral and economic arguements why this should be the case and remain the case.

    This is one of those cases where such a policy about-face most definitely needs a public debate and at the very least put to the Dáil for debate. There is no aspect of public consent to this and if you put it to people that this was possible, I think most would be very surprised and perhaps angry about it.

    I'm sorry, I really don't believe we owe Paolo the Deliveroo guy who forgot to go back to Recife after his 'English language course' finished three years ago a thing. I really really don't.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭DelaneyIn


    wiggle16 wrote: »
    The link you posted states quite clearly that habitual residence is not defined in Irish law. The idea therefore that the department is doung something illegal is a smokescreen for what you really have a problem with here, I think.

    Would you rather immigrants didn't work, legally or illegally, and lived off the state via direct provision or otherwise? Or would you rather they worked and paid tax until their status is established?

    How would you like it? You can't have it both ways.

    How can an illegal immigrant be habitually resident? Secondly, I think most would prefer that illegals are deported. Not working and definitely not claiming dole.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,601 ✭✭✭Hoboo


    DelaneyIn wrote: »

    Now, why the hell are we paying welfare to people who don’t even have the legal right to be in the country?

    To encourage them to stay at home, or come forward if theyre displaying symptoms.

    It's not that hard to understand.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,022 Mod ✭✭✭✭wiggle16


    DelaneyIn wrote: »
    How can an illegal immigrant be habitually resident?

    Read the citizensinfo link yurt posted.
    Secondly, I think most would prefer that illegals are deported. Not working and definitely not claiming dole.

    You think most people want what you want. I think that if most people took the time to understand illegal migration they would understand that it is not as simplistic as you appear to believe it is and that while the immigration system here is ridiculous and unfair to the State and the taxpayer (including us) and migrants, it is unreasonable to expect people who enter the country to live on fresh air until they are either deported or have their status regularised. It's not realistic and if you think that illegal migration can be stopped entirely then you're a hiding to nothing.

    I would rather they work to pay their way until their fate is decided and if they are working and paying tax then they are entitled to claim social welfare when they are out of work.

    Anything else is vindictive. Nothing short of vindictive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,105 ✭✭✭Kivaro


    wiggle16 wrote: »

    I would rather they work to pay their way until their fate is decided and if they are working and paying tax then they are entitled to claim social welfare when they are out of work.
    .....
    Was thinking about this topic earlier.
    It is a tough one. I'd be inclined to agree with the comment above; if they have a proven work record and paid into the system, then during a catastrophic economic environment and while a lock down is in place, they should receive social payments. When the lock down is over, then any further payments will need to be tied into a determination of their legal situation.

    From my own personal experience, I've yet to meet a working migrant that I didn't like
    The issue for most are the migrants and asylum seekers who come here specifically for the very generous welfare benefits and welfare services provided to them in Ireland. Without any notion of working, they treat the Irish worker as subservient to them.
    From my own personal experience, I've yet to meet a non-working migrant that I did like. Roma gypies are one example.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭JohnnyFlash


    Jesus, we know there's illegal immigrants in Ireland, and across the EU. They tend to work in really crap industries like cleaning, takeaway delivery, au-pair, fruit and vegetable picking etc. It does need to be looked at, but now isn't the time to do so. They work cash-in-hand, and most of them are now out of work. What do we want to happen to them?

    Let them not be able to pay their rent and eat? Deport them? Who would pay for their ticket home, and is any other country advocating such a thing?

    Allowing people to access support during this crisis is a fundamentally decent thing to do. We can go and reappraise the approach when we have the time. What you don't want now is people who work week-to-week wandering the streets. That's social democracy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    wiggle16 wrote: »
    Read the citizensinfo link yurt posted.


    Anything else is vindictive. Nothing short of vindictive.

    The link sets out gov policy. Which states that those without permission to reside shall not be considered to be habitually resident, and not eligible for social welfare supports. Quite the opposite of what you're inferring.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Jesus, we know there's illegal immigrants in Ireland, and across the EU. They tend to work in really crap industries like cleaning, takeaway delivery, au-pair, fruit and vegetable picking etc. It does need to be looked at, but now isn't the time to do so. They work cash-in-hand, and most of them are now out of work. What do we want to happen to them?

    Let them not be able to pay their rent and eat? Deport them? Who would pay for their ticket home, and is any other country advocating such a thing?

    Allowing people to access support during this crisis is a fundamentally decent thing to do. We can go and reappraise the approach when we have the time. What you don't want now is people who work week-to-week wandering the streets. That's social democracy.
    I am totally fine with you paying for people that shouldn't be here.
    I am not totally fine with me paying for people that shouldn't be here.


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