Tag Archive for: Irish government

IMMIGRATION TO IRELAND HITS 17-YEAR HIGH ACCORDING TO DATA RELEASED BY THE CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published data that shows that 149,200 people have immigrated to Ireland in the 12-month period between April 2023 and April 2024. Of these numbers, 30,000 were returning Irish citizens, 27,000 were EU citizens, and 5,400 were UK citizens. 86,800 immigrants were citizens of other countries.

In response, the Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that the government need to do more to prepare Ireland for population growth.

The figures released by the CSO reveal that the number of immigrants entering Ireland during this period was the highest since the period between April 2006 and April 2007.

The population of Ireland is now estimated to be 5.38 million, increasing by 98,700 since 2023.

The CSO also published data showing that more than 69,000 people emigrated in the same period. Of that figure, 34,700 were Irish citizens, 10,600 were EU citizens, and 21,500 were citizens of other countries. An estimated 10,600 people moved from Ireland to Australia; an increase of 126%, which represents the highest level of emigration to Australia since 2013. Just 6,400 people moved from Australia to Ireland. 15,200 people also left Ireland to live in the UK, while 20,500 people moved to Ireland from the UK.

Those aged between 25 and 44 accounted for 48% of all emigrants. According to the CSO, the number of emigrants from countries outside of the EU has risen by 49%, when compared to the 14,400 in 2023, however a significant number of these were Ukrainian.

According to the Irish Times, there were a positive net migration of 79,300 people in the 12-month period. There was also a natural increase of 19,400 people in the State, made up of 54,200 births and 34,800 deaths.

Speaking about the population growth in the State, Taoiseach Simon Harris stated, “there’s no doubt governments, the Government that I lead, will now need to do a better job in terms of forward planning, preparing for population growth, wondering what that means for public services, what that means for investment, what that means for staffing levels.” He also emphasised that “Inward migration is a good thing. We should be very clear about that. What Ireland needs to do is make sure it has the systems in place to properly process people, to provide people who are coming seeking international protection with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ more quickly.”

The full Irish Times article can be accessed here:

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/08/27/immigration-to-ireland-hits-17-year-high-as-emigration-also-rises/#:~:text=Figures%20for%20year%20to%20April,State%20in%20three%20successive%20years&text=Some%20149%2C200%20people%20immigrated%20to,Central%20Statistics%20Office%20(CSO)

MINISTER FOR JUSTICE COMMENTS ON REGULARISATION OF STATUS FOR UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS IN IRELAND

On 26th June 2020, the new coalition government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party endorsed the Programme for Government, which contains a commitment to regularise the status of undocumented migrants in Ireland.

In response to a Parliamentary Question put to her on 14th July 2020, the Minister for Justice has announced that a policy paper on this matter is currently being drafted by officials in the Department of Justice.

The Minister stated:

“The Programme for Government contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents meeting specified criteria to regularise their status within 18 months of the formation of the Government, bearing in mind European Union and Common Travel Area commitments. Ireland along with other Member States of the EU, has committed, under the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum (2008), to a case-by-case approach as opposed to mass regularisation.

A policy paper on the matter is being drafted by my officials at the present time. This will include an assessment of international best practices.

In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. I would encourage any person who is resident in the State without permission to contact my Department or their local immigration office and to take all appropriate steps to regularise their own and their family’s status.”

At present there has been no final agreement on this scheme or how it would operate but the Government has committed to establishing such a scheme within the next 18-month period.

We at Berkeley Solicitors fully support the implementation of a scheme to regularise the status of undocumented migrants and will publish any future developments on this on our website.

If you or a family member have any queries about your immigration status, please do not hesitate contact our office.

Please be aware that no such scheme exists at present and no new application process is currently available.

POSSIBILITY OF GRANTING LEGAL STATUS TO UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS DISCUSSED AT GOVERNMENT TALKS

The Irish Independent has reported that a proposed scheme to regularise the status of undocumented migrants in Ireland has been discussed as part of Government formation talks between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.

According to the article, published by the Irish Independent on 21st May 2020, the parties are in talks to establish a scheme that would allow undocumented migrants in Ireland to apply to regularise their status. The parties proposed that the criteria for such a scheme would be set out within 18 months of the new Government taking office.

At present there has been no final agreement on this scheme and any developments on this matter would be dependent on Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party forming a coalition Government together.

It is estimated that there are currently 15,000-17,000 undocumented people living in Ireland, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 of whom are thought to be children. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) states that 93% of undocumented migrants are in work, including as many as 29% who work as carers.  The Covid-19 pandemic has also highlighted that many undocumented migrants are employed as key essential workers, working in difficult and challenging situations to keep the country going during this ongoing crisis.

We at Berkeley Solicitors would fully support the implementation of a scheme to regularise the status of undocumented migrants and will publish any future developments on this on our website.

The full article can be read here.

If you or a family member have any queries about your immigration status, please contact our office.