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Today, new proposals will be brought to Cabinet by the Minister for Foreign Affairs which will deem the production of passports an essential service. The majority of passport services have been suspended since December in line with the Level 5 restrictions. It is planned that the Minister will ask the Cabinet to consider passport services an essential service in order to allow the backlog to be efficiently cleared.
The Minister for Justice has outlined the draft proposals for the regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants to the Cabinet today. The Minister outlined that it is envisaged that the scheme will be open to people who have lived in the State for a period of four years without a valid immigration permission, or a period of three years for persons with minor children. There will be an assessment of character and conduct as part of the application process.
As of 29th January 2021, the Department of Justice has ceased accepting the majority of new visa/preclearance applications due to Covid-19, with the exception of a number of Priority/Emergency categories of visas. The Priority/Emergency category includes persons travelling for imperative family reasons. The Minister for Justice has published an update providing clarity on the meaning of imperative family reasons for the purpose of new visa applications.
On 26th March 2021, the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee published a notice announcing a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions. This extension applies to immigration and international protection permissions to reside in the State that are due to expire between 21st April 2021 and 20th September 2021.
It applies to all persons with a current valid permission, whether pursuant to domestic law or powers of the Minister, or pursuant to Directive 2004/38/EC (the EU Free Movement Directive).
On 23rd March 2021, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, announced that she will make it easier for children born here, whose parents are not Irish citizens and who are not entitled to citizenship at birth, to gain Irish citizenship themselves.
On 29th January 2021, a notice was posted on the Department of Justice website confirming that new measures had been imposed from the 29th January 2021, including the cessation of accepting new visa or preclearance applications from all countries. On 4th March the Department of Justice website update the notice and has confirmed that these measures have now been extended to at least the 5th April 2021.
The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is due to publish her Justice Plan 2021 today, the 22nd February 2021. The plan contains more than 200 actions which are to be implemented in the next 12 months, including the promised regularisation scheme for undocumented persons.
A Stamp 1G is often given to graduates who are non-EEA nationals and who have completed their studies in Ireland. Those with a Bachelor’s Degree generally receive a 12-month permission, while those with a Master’s Degrees may receive a 24-month permission. Prior to the expiry of their permission, Stamp 1G holders must find a job that requires an employment permit if they want to stay in Ireland on a long-term basis. While it is possible to apply to the Department of Justice to renew your Stamp 1G, there is limited guidance as to what evidence is needed in order to be successful.
The Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice have answered parliamentary questions relating to the regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants, and access for Covid-19 vaccines for the undocumented, respectively. Neale Richmond TD asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the promised scheme for undocumented persons to regularise their status in the State, and if undocumented residents in Ireland will receive assurances they will not be deported if they present to their local immigration office to regulate their status as suggested by her Department.
On 14th October 2020, the Supreme Court found that the system in place for the revocation of Irish citizenship by way of naturalisation, as set out in section 19 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court held that this process does not meet the high standards of natural justice applicable to a person facing the severe consequence of losing their Irish citizenship. On Wednesday 10th February 2021, the Court granted declarations that Sections 19(2) and 19(3) be struck down in their entirety but found that it was not necessary to strike down section 19(1), which contains the ministerial power to revoke and the grounds for such revocation.