Latest developments on migration and asylum in Ireland

Date Published: 25-11-2013

Developments at national level

New developments announced to allow citizens of Thailand avail of the Irish Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme from 18 November 2013.
New Regulation on the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 426 of 2013), governing the investigation and determination of applications for subsidiary protection in the State came into effect on 14 November 2013. The responsibility for processing subsidiary protection applications at first instance has now transferred to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC).

Reports/Publications

New report from Doras Luimní entitled Treated Differently? Evidence of racism and discrimination and racism from a local perspective.
The Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority jointly launched their annual reports for 2012 pending their merger into the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in 2014.
A Path to Integration: Migrants Volunteering in the Community is a toolkit developed by the Integration Centre to assist organisations interested in involving migrant volunteers and also those interested in promoting diversity and enhancing cultural awareness through volunteering.
Infographic for the voter awareness campaign, Your Ireland, Your Vote, seeks to inform people with (and without) a migrant background about voting in the Irish Local Elections in May 2014.

Event

29 November 2013: EMN Ireland Conference on Challenges and Responses to Identifying Victims of Trafficking. Alexander Hotel, 41-47 Fenian Street, Dublin 2. View more information.
2 December 2013: Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Conference on Identifying Victims of Trafficking: National and International Perspectives, Jurys Inn, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. To reserve a place, please email communications@mrci.ie.
6 December 2013: Irish Refugee Council Video Launch: Seeking Asylum in Ireland – A Guide for Children, European Parliament Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. RSVP https://www.eventbrite.com/event/9110641173

Newsletters

Developments at national level

New arrangements for processing applications for Subsidiary Protection have been announced. The responsibility for processing subsidiary protection applications at first instance will be transferred from Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). There will be a personal interview in ORAC which is intended to establish the full details of an application and to enable a determination to be made. An oral appeal to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal will be available in respect of negative ORAC decisions.
New Atypical Working Scheme, coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) in agreement with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is available to non-EEA nationals who, in certain circumstances, are required by a company/organisation in Ireland to undertake short-term contract work in Ireland.

Reports/Publications

New Mobilities in Europe: Polish Migration to Ireland post 2004 (Krings, Moriarty, Wickham, Bobek and Salamońska) examines Polish migration to Ireland. It includes detailed accounts of the working lives of a group of mainly skilled Polish migrants in Dublin.
New EMN Ireland publication: Attracting Highly Qualified and Qualified Third-Country Nationals: Ireland (Quinn and Gusciute) shows that despite the recession, Ireland is actively competing for certain highly-skilled non-EEA workers in sectors such as IT, engineering, finance and healthcare.
Access to Citizenship and its Impact on Immigrant Integration: Handbook for Ireland prepared by the Migration Policy Group in cooperation with the Immigrant Council of Ireland
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Infographic 2013: Who comes to us for help?
Immigrant Council of Ireland, Immigration Information Update.

Events

7 November 2013: Ruhama Pathways Through Prostitution: Exploring positive support models for women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking on 7 November 2013, from 9am to 1pm, Dublin Morrison Hotel.
20 November 2013: The Irish Refugee Council celebrates its 21st Anniversary this Universal Children’s Day. The event is hosted by A&L Goodbody Solicitors at their offices at North Wall Quay, Dublin 1.
29 November 2013: Advance notice of EMN Ireland Conference on Challenges and Responses to Identifying Victims of Trafficking. More details will be available on www.emn.ie shortly. To register your interest in this event please email: emn.ireland@esri.ie.

Newsletters

Developments at national level

Changes to third level fees announced by Department of Education which will benefit migrant students living in Ireland.
Department to Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announce further changes to the Employment permit system aimed at attracting skilled workers to Ireland.
ENAR (European Network Against Racism) Ireland launches a new website, www.ireport.ie which allows the public to confidentially report racist incidents.
IOM Ireland launches a new Stories of Return website which records stories of people who have been assisted by The Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programmes.

Reports

New Communities Partnership in collaboration with Dublin’s four local authorities launch A Practical Guide to Assisting Integration for Local Authorities aimed at promoting integration of migrant communities.
Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) publishes 2012 Annual Report.
Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) issues Annual Report for 2012.
Department of Justice and Equality publishes 2012 Annual Report.
New report on Access to Citizenship and its Impact on Immigrant Integration: Handbook for Ireland, prepared by the Migration Policy Group in cooperation with the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Legal developments

Legislation criminalising forced labour has been passed in the houses of the Oireachtas and it will transfer the EU directive on human trafficking into Irish Law.
High Court of Northern Ireland quashes a decision of the UK immigration authorities to return a Sudanese family to direct provision housing in the Republic of Ireland.

Calls for proposals

Pobal, on behalf of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, invites applications for funding under the European Refugee Fund (ERF). The ERF is a European Union (EU) programme that provides funding to Member States to support the reception of asylum seekers, and the reception and integration of refugees.
Pobal, on behalf of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration, invites applications for funding under the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals (EIF). The EIF is a European Union (EU) programme that supports the integration of third-country nationals in Member States.

Events

27 September 2013: The Immigrant Council of Ireland host the 5^th Annual Mothers and Daughters Lunch, Dublin. The lunch is in aid of our anti-trafficking work, which is centred on the upholding of human rights of some of the most vulnerable women and girls in Ireland.
4 October 2013: Nasc Conference on Racism and Hate Crime in Ireland, Cork. The conference aims to promote an open dialogue, examining the effectiveness or otherwise of our current legislative and policy framework to effectively deal with all forms of hate speech, racism and discrimination.