Members of the Chinese community in Ireland could be forced to find work abroad because of the country's limitations on how long grandparents can stay, it was claimed today.
In its response to the Minister for Justice's, Michael McDowell, proposed Immigration and Residence Bill, the Association of Chinese Professionals called for a rethink on visas limiting family members' stay in the Irish Republic to three months.
The association said families who had settled in Ireland wanted grandparents back home in China to visit them and play a role in the raising of their children.
However the three month visa deterred young migrant workers' parents who face a long journey from China at great expense.
The association's Jen Xie explained: "In many cultures, the elder generation has a central role in the raising of their grandchildren and many parents of young migrant workers want to participate in the raising of their Irish-born grandchildren, but they are currently restricted to a three month visiting visa.
"This is problematic in practical terms where visitors have to travel so far and such expense for a limited period of time."
The association has proposed parents who have pensions and medical care benefits in China and whose visit will not see them avail of public services in Ireland should be issued a flexible visa.
It has suggested the special visa would have a renewal procedure that would enable relatives to remain in the country to help raise children instead of having to head back to China.