Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that certain welfare payments received by people applying for Irish citizenship will now be considered as part of the application process.
The Government is set to review proposals from Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan aimed at reforming Ireland’s migration policy, reports RTE.
Plans to reform the asylum system are expected to progress through Cabinet this week
Speaking at the G20 summit in South Africa, the Taoiseach indicated that applicants for citizenship could be barred if they had received certain welfare payments over a specified period, reports RTE.
The proposed changes going before Cabinet will also tighten rules around family reunification applications, with a particular focus on any outstanding debts owed to the State
Refugees granted status may have to wait five years rather than the current three before they are eligible to apply for full citizenship, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin and Aontú have expressed concern that the Government’s plans do not adequately address the upcoming changes to the British asylum system
The full details of the migration law reforms will be set out in legislation expected before the end of the year, with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan scheduled to provide an update following Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, reports RTE.
“I think this is a modest enough overhaul, but an important one,” Mr Martin said,
“We’ve always taken a humanitarian approach, but I think there is necessary tightening up that is required in terms of both the asylum process and in terms of the citizenship process in Ireland,
“That’s in essence, what is envisaged by these reforms,” he said, reports RTE.
Mr Martin confirmed the reforms had been presented to party leaders as well as the Cabinet sub-committee
The Taoiseach was asked about reports suggesting refugees may be barred from citizenship if they received welfare payments within a certain period, reports RTE.
He was specifically questioned whether female refugees would need to avoid pregnancy to qualify for Irish citizenship
“So we’ve discussed these in relative detail and I think we will work through these as the legislation comes in, but that wouldn’t be on the agenda,” he said, reports RTE.
“I think we’re looking at particular types of payment and so on like that,” Mr Martin said,
The Taoiseach was also asked what he hopes the reforms will achieve, reports RTE.
“I think a sense that Ireland is not an outlier in terms of benefits,” he said, reports RTE.
“We see what’s happening in the United Kingdom, even though we were looking at these reforms before the UK’s latest reforms, there are knock-on effects, consequences from what others do. That’s the reality,” reports RTE.
“We have to be realistic about it, and we have to be firm about it, and also we have to accelerate because it’s taken too long historically for people to have their asylum applications processed and concluded,” Mr Martin said, reports RTE.
“We’ve now made a lot of progress on the first phase of that, the appeal stage is being staffed up, and Minister [Jim] O’Callaghan has particular plans to enhance the resources there so that we get a faster timeline in terms of appeals as well, so that people aren’t waiting for prolonged periods of time,” he added, reports RTE.
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