The latest statistics from the Immigrant Council of Ireland's (ICI) referral phone line service show consistently high demand for immigration advice - indicating that migrants are not leaving Ireland despite the recession times. Since the start of 2011, the helpline has handled almost 5,000 calls from 137 different nationalities. While 2010 saw queries about 'renewal of status' and 'citizenship' as the most pressing concerns for migrants in Ireland, most enquiries in 2011 have related to residency rights for parents of Irish citizen children. In the past six months the helpline has dealt with almost 800 calls on this issue alone, compared to 286 calls in 2010. The ICI believe the recent Zambrano judgment has made a huge impact on these figures. Bulletin readers will recall that Zambrano is a groundbreaking judgment from the CJEU on the right of parents of Irish citizen children to live and work in Ireland while the children are minors.
Click here to view the ICI's report.
ICI's helpline is a confidential information and referral service which offers advice and information about the immigration system in Ireland. The service is available four days per week. Click here for more information on the ICI referral line.