On 13 March 2024, new legislation to bring into effect a revised approach to supporting new arrivals from Ukraine has been commenced. The Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 implements recently announced changes to the income supports provided to newly arriving Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in Ireland. On 12 December 2023, the Department of the … Read More
New data on arrivals from Ukraine in CSO’s latest release
On 20 February 2024, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the 12th report in the Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland series. The figures on numbers of arrivals are based on Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) allocations to people protected under the Temporary Protection Directive, as of 04 February 2024. Summary of arrivals In total there have been 104,870 arrivals … Read More
New EMN Inform: Access to autonomous housing in the context of international protection
Access to autonomous housing plays an important role in the integration process for international protection applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. The European Commission Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027 highlights the importance of promoting autonomous housing models for international protection applicants. It also underscores the value of disseminating and scaling up successful models of inclusive and affordable … Read More
Recent European Court of Justice developments on international protection
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has recently delivered two significant rulings in relation to international protection. An Advocate General of the CJEU also delivered their opinion on Member States recognising refugee status issued by other Member States. Procedural guarantees and indirect refoulement under the Dublin III Regulation On 30 November 2023, the CJEU delivered a … Read More
New measures to expedite international protection application processing announced
On 30 January, the Department of Justice announced new measures to expedite international protection application processing. As of 31 January, Algeria and Botswana will be considered as designated safe countries of origin for the purpose of making a claim for international protection in Ireland. The changes were made following a review of safe countries of origin in the context … Read More
Expansion of Employment Permit System Announced
On 20 December 2023, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) announced significant changes to the employment permit system. The changes cross many employment sectors and include amendments to roles eligible for employment permits as well as a roadmap for increasing the minimum salary thresholds for employment permits. The changes include the addition of 11 roles to the … Read More
Political agreement reached on key parts of the Pact on Migration and Asylum
On 20 December political agreement was reached by the European Parliament and the Council on key proposals under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The agreement covers five key proposed Regulations: Screening Regulation: creating uniform rules concerning the identification of non-EU nationals upon their arrival, thus increasing the security within the Schengen area. Eurodac Regulation: developing a common database gathering … Read More
Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2022: Ireland
On 29 November 2023, the European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland published its Annual Report on Migration and Asylum 2022: Ireland. With an overview of the latest data as well as policy and operational developments, research, and case law from 2022, this report is a comprehensive reference that gives an opportunity to view the entire migration landscape in Ireland. The report … Read More
Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth publishes report on Refugees and Integration
On 28 November 2023, the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published a report on Refugees and Integration. The report which outlines various recommendations was part of the Committee’s recent work on reviewing issues relating to refugees and integration, such as the timely processing of applications for international protection, accommodation of applicants, combatting misinformation and disinformation, … Read More
What to expect from the European Network on Migration and EMN Ireland in 2024
In 2024, like every year, the European Migration Network (EMN) will publish outputs on a range of migration and asylum related issues. Research topics are proposed by EMN National Contact Points (NCPs) and the European Commission and selected by EMN Member and Observer States. This article outlines some topics of focus for EMN (wider) and EMN Ireland in 2024. … Read More
New census data on labour market participation of migrants released
On 5 December 2023, the Central Statistics Office released Profile 7 – Employment, Occupations and Commuting of Census 2022. Profile 7 provides detailed analysis of labour market participation, unemployment and occupations, by country of citizenship and for recently arrived migrants. For the overall population, Census 2022 data records increases in the number of people employed, standing at 2.3 million … Read More
EMN Ireland publishes Annual Report on Migration and Asylum in Ireland 2022
Today the European Migration Network (EMN) Ireland published its Annual Report on Migration and Asylum in Ireland 2022. With an overview of the latest data as well as policy and operational developments, research, and case law from 2022, this report is a comprehensive reference that gives an opportunity to view the entire migration landscape in Ireland. The report shows that … Read More
COE expert group on violence against women and domestic violence publishes first report on Ireland
On 14 November 2023, the Council of Europe (COE) Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) published its baseline report on Ireland. GREVIO is an independent human rights monitoring body that monitors the implementation of the COE Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the “Istanbul Convention”). Ireland ratified … Read More
Third National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking launched
On Monday 6 November, the Department of Justice launched the third National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. Human trafficking is a crime that is based on the deception and exploitation of people. It is defined as the movement or holding of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion or deception, … Read More
One in ten of the population are non-Irish citizens, census 2022 figures show
On 26th October, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released Profile 5 Diversity, Migration, Ethnicity, Irish Travellers and Religion of the 2022 Census. Profile 5 looks at the diversity of the population in Ireland, including country of citizenship, ethnic group or background, and languages spoken. Patterns of immigration in the year leading up to the census, Irish Travellers and religion … Read More
New data on arrivals from Ukraine in CSO’s latest release
On the 24 October 2023 the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released the eleventh report in the Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland series. The figures related to the numbers of arrivals are based on Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) allocations to people protected under the Temporary Protection Directive, as of the week ending 08 October 2023. Summary of arrivals In … Read More
Holders of ” Stamp 4″ residence permissions new eligible for civil service roles.
On Monday 23rd October, Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Pascal Donohoe TD announced the expansion of civil service eligibility criteria to include non-EEA individuals holding Stamp 4 residence permissions. People with Stamp 4 permissions are free to take up employment in Ireland, however previously the eligibility criteria for civil service roles included citizenship from within the … Read More
Public Consultation to inform national migrant integration strategy launched
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has launched a public consultation to inform the development of a new national strategy for migrant integration. The consultation plans to gather insights and experiences of challenges, needs and opportunities regarding migrant integration in Ireland. The consultation is open until 30 November 2023. The approach of the Migrant Integration … Read More
Ombudsman for Children’s Office publishes first Special Report on the Safety and Welfare of Children in Direct Provision
On Tuesday 19th October 2023, the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) published a Special Report on the Safety and Welfare of Children in Direct Provision. It is the first report of its kind since the OCO was established in 2004. The Special Report highlights concern regarding the lack of progress on its previous three recommendations, which were issued in … Read More
Department of Justice begins accepting Citizenship applications online
The Department of Justice has announced that as part of the Immigration Service Delivery Modernisation Programme, the citizenship application process is now digitalised. The online service allows applicants to complete their application form, upload necessary supporting documentation and pay fees online. Applications for Citizenship have increased in recent years, totalling over 17,000 in 2022 and over 16,000 to date … Read More