Sinnott Solicitors understand that as part of the Government formation talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, discussions are currently taking place proposing to regularise the status of up to 17,000 undocumented migrants who are currently living in Ireland. This is a huge development and if introduced would be a fantastic scheme in order to grant legal status to the many individuals presently living and working in Ireland without permission to do so. 

We understand that under draft plans currently being drawn up that the criteria for the scheme may be published within 18 months of the new Government office taking place. Of course this will be dependent on the three parties actually going into Government together with negotiations ongoing at present but we are very hopeful that this proposal will become a reality. 

Whilst there is no final agreement in place and as above outlined any such scheme will be subject to the new coalition Government taking office, we believe  that this is a huge and positive development for undocumented migrants living in Ireland. 

At present there are an estimated 15,000-17,000 undocumented people living in Ireland however we submit that this is an estimate and there may in fact be much higher numbers than this. Many of these undocumented migrants have been working tirelessly in our country for many years undertaking jobs which many Irish people would never consider doing. We have many clients who are working as carers for elderly in their homes thus allowing elderly people to remain in their homes without having to move to hospitals and care facilities, carers for children, cleaners, shop workers, factory workers, farm workers, construction and many other occupations working long hours earning less than minimum wage in extremely difficult situations. 

It has been well documented throughout the Covid-19 pandemic that many undocumented migrants have been our key essential workers in Ireland, working in many difficult and challenging situations in order to keep our country going and we submit that given the sacrifices and contribution that they have made to our country and economy that it is only fair at this point that their status would be regularised.

Approximately 75% of undocumented migrants have been living in Ireland for over five years and Sinnott Solicitors are aware of many individuals who have been living here for 10, 15 some even 20 years without having their status regularised. Such individuals are living here without access to medical care, treatment and are living in a constant fear of being deported. 

It is also extremely important to point out that many children are also living in Ireland as undocumented migrants, children who have been born here and raised as Irish, knowing no other place or culture but the country in which they have been born and raised. 

Whilst we appreciate that there is a need to control and regularise our immigration system there is also a need to finally regularise our many undocumented migrants who have made such an invaluable contribution to Irish society in recent years and in particular during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. 

We will await further information on any such scheme and will of course publicise any further information as soon as it comes to light. 

Sinnott Solicitors are experts in all areas of Irish immigration and if you have any queries in relation to the contents of this article or your own immigration status please do not hesitate to contact our office on 014062862 or info@sinnott.ie.