Hundreds of immigrant parents of Irish citizen children held a rally outside Leinster House yesterday to protest against threatened deportations.
The demonstration follows a Supreme Court ruling that non-EU parents of children born in Ireland are not automatically entitled to residency in the State by virtue of having a citizen to care for. The landmark judgment last January could pave the way for deportations of thousands of Irish citizens with their immigrant parents. Until the ruling, it had been the practice for several years that non-EU immigrants who did not have any other legal right to live in Ireland could gain residency once they became parents of Irish citizens.
Some 11,000 immigrant families are awaiting decisions on their applications for residency on this basis, processing of which has been suspended.
A Government decision on how to deal with outstanding applications in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling remains pending. A spokesman for the Department of Justice said a Cabinet decision is expected this month. Yesterday's rally was organised by Residents Against Racism following an approach by immigrant parents of Irish citizens. The event was attended by immigrant parents who have made residency applications.
A Green Party TD, Mr Ciarán Cuffe, told the crowd that a clear message should go to the Government that it was not good enough to deport Irish citizens, and that the law must be changed.
Mr Joe Costello TD of the Labour Party urged the Minister for Justice to agree a common and humane approach to the issue. A moratorium on deportations should be introduced pending such an agreement, he added.
Mr Joe Higgins, the Socialist Party TD, said this country of emigrants should be "deeply shamed by our Government". Mr Finian McGrath, an Independent TD, said children born in Ireland had rights under UN laws that should be honoured.