Fall in asylum seeker numbers
The number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland fell by one third in 2011, most likely as a result of Ireland's difficult economic situation and stricter immigration controls implemented by the Irish government. The Irish Times reports that last year, 1250 asylum applications were received - less than one tenth of the peak recorded a decade ago.
The Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter has announced new immigration control measures that he intends to implement in 2012, including the English-language and civics tests for citizenship applicants, standardising the citizenship application processing time to six months, stationing immigration officers being at Dublin Airport and "a clear statement of policy" on family reunification and settlement for cases involving partners of Irish citizens from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and cases where both partners are from outside the EEA. It is also intended that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 will be progressed in the Oireachtas.
The Minister defended Ireland's immigration system - including the deportation of immigrants -as being a process of this system and "no different to other countries who also remove individuals who have no lawful right to remain within their territory." Almost 4000 people were removed from Ireland in 2011, the majority of which (3700) were refused entry at entry ports. There were 280 failed asylum seekers deported, 144 asylum seekers transferred to another EU state under the Dublin Regulation, and 41 EU nationals were returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU removal order.
The Irish experience in 2011 could parallel that of the UK in 2012, where it has been predicted there will be a 10% fall in immigration this year due in part to the UK's own economic problems. The Institute for Public Policy Research, an independent thinktank, has forecast that the number of both EU and non-EU migrants will decrease to 180,000 from 200,000. However, the UK coalition government had earlier set an election target of reducing net immigration to "tens of thousands". Their election pledge did have an auspicious start, with net migration to the UK from other EU countries actually increasing in 2010.
Click here to view a press release from the Department of Justice and Equality.
Click here to see a piece by the Guardian.
Click here to see the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research.
Project for Young Asylum Seekers
In December 2011, the Irish Refugee Council launched a project entitled "Mapping Services for Young People in the Asylum Process" which seeks to integrate children and young people living in direct provision.
Click here to see a piece by the Irish Times on the project's launch.