Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department's family reunion policy is being reviewed; if so, how the review will be carried out; if consultation will be part of it; if so, with whom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30241/24]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

196. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider a change (details supplied) to the family reunion policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30242/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

207. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on the review of the family reunion policy; if consideration will be given to amending the policy to allow individuals in full-time employment to have their family with them from the start of their full-time employment; when it is envisaged that this review will be finalised and the review findings issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30436/24]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

210. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to review the criteria and requirements for non-EEA/non-Swiss individuals seeking to join family members in Ireland who are non-critical skills employment permit holders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30501/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 187, 195, 196, 207 and 210 together.

As the Deputy is aware the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review. The review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. Officials from my Department have consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders, including relevant Government departments and organisations such as the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and Crosscare. That engagement will continue and my expectation is that the review will be brought to conclusion later this year.

Insofar as current arrangements are concerned, holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP) can apply for immediate family reunification at the same time as their own visa permission is being sought and they are processed in tandem. If the CSEP holder chooses not to apply for immediate reunification, applications for Join Family visas can be made at any time after they enter the state. A person residing in the State on the basis of a General Employment permit (GEP) is eligible to apply for family reunification after 12 months. Separately, it is open to spouses of general employment permit holders to apply for employment permits in their own right and enter the State for that purpose.

While I fully understand that all people moving to Ireland to live and work would wish to have their family join them, the issues to be examined as part of a family reunification application are complex. An important consideration in all family reunification applications, for example, is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland.

I can also advise that, with effect from 15 May 2024, the first part of the review was implemented in that eligible spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee Irish Employment Permit holders, who have applied for and been granted family reunification, in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will now be registered on a Stamp 1G permission, rather than a Stamp 3. This will allow the holder to take up employment without the need to obtain a separate Employment Permit of their own.