Irish emigrant treated as ‘foreigner’ on returning home to attend college

The case of an Irish emigrant who was classed as a “foreigner’’ when he returned to pursue an academic course was highlighted yesterday by Feargal Quinn (Ind).

Mr Quinn said the young man who could not obtain employment here was forced to emigrate. "He worked abroad for three years before deciding to return to pursue a degree in engineering, only to discover that he is now deemed to be a foreigner and will be charged €12,000 in fees by the Dublin Institute of Technology as a result,'' he said.

Mr Quinn said that while there could not be too many cases of that nature, it did not take away from the fact there was still an anomaly whereby young people who had no choice but to go abroad in search of work, and returned after a short period, were treated as “foreigners’’.

Voting rights
Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) urged the House to consider the involvement of the diaspora in Irish elections. He said most members of the House believed that the 70 million people of Irish extraction all over the world should have an input into elections here. "The understanding is that this may now happen in the context of presidential elections.''

Mr O Murchu said the Irish community in Britain was immensely hurt by the suggestion the vote would be confined to those who emigrated in the past 15 years.

Mary White (FF) raised the difficulties faced by Irish couples travelling to Russia to adopt children. Some had bonded and fallen in love with the babies and were in the process of completing the adoptions when told by the Russian government that the rules of engagement had changed. "For the Irish families involved, time is running out and they are devastated at the lack of movement on the appropriate legislative amendment," she said.

Leader of the House Maurice Cummins (FG) said he knew Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald was doing everything possible to try to resolve "this sad and regrettable situation''.

He said the Minister had met her Russian counterparts with a view to finding a resolution.