Deportation order for health workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic

DUBLIN: The move to deport two health workers who cared for inmates living in nursing homes without even looking after their own health during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked controversy. The government will reconsider the decision following the news and the controversy over the incident.

The two were told to leave Ireland voluntarily or face deportation. Health workers and the owner of the nursing home said they were shocked by the government’s decision. They worked during the epidemic without even looking at their own lives. The two said, with a request not to be named, that the government’s decision to ignore this was quite saddening.

The nursing home owner explained that the staff suffered greatly during the COVID crisis. “Thinking back to March and April, we had one week where were lost five people… we had 30 residents test positive at one stage here, though the majority had no symptoms, and we also had ten members of staff that tested positive,” he said.

These health workers served despite the threat to their lives. None of us would be alive now without their care, he added.

At the onset of the pandemic they moved from the Direct Provision Center to a nursing home to avoid the risk of COVID-19. “It was hard, for two of three months I was the only person staying there, just by myself in the whole place.  I didn’t have any cooking facilities, so the only thing I had was a microwave.”

“I don’t regret it… I love my work. Every day when I go home, I feel that I am making a difference to someone’s life,” as nurse said.

New recruitment will not take place at present. The owner of the nursing home said that despite the advertisement, there was no one to apply.

The deportation of health workers was also discussed in the Dáil. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith raised the issue in the House. It’s inhumane to deport people who are fighting at the frontline to save our lives, he said. Taoiseach Michael Martin has said he will contact the Justice Department to look into the matter.

In June, Independent TD Catherine Connolly questioned then-Justice Minister Charlie Flannagan about “granting permission to remain” health workers in the country.

Flanagan had responded that health workers fail in a claim for International Protection would be considered permitted to continue based on their character and conduct. However, this was not at all considered in the case of these health workers.

Social Democrats spokesperson on children Jennifer Whitmore said the matter should be reconsidered.

Sinn Féin’s Justice and Equality spokesperson Martin Kenny said: “I think the first step in the process would be that they would be immediately issued with a work permit and a right to stay and do the invaluable work that they are doing… and that would lead to them having a right to stay as a worker in Ireland.”

Last August, the Irish Refugee Council demanded that health workers who failed to apply for refugee or subsidiary protection be allowed to stay here for their services. The Movement of Asylum Seekers pointed out that such a plan had been introduced in Canada. Spokesperson Bulelani Mfaco asked the minister to go further in this regard.

The Department of Justice has made it clear that those working in a “healthcare setting” will be considered when assessing applications for “leave to remain” in this country. The Department stated that it would not comment on individual cases, but explained that each case would be examined in detail and that all factors would be taken into consideration. The Department of Justice said it would consider amending or revoking the deportation orders.