FW: Press Release: Statistics Highlight Concerns of Migrants in Ireland

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Tuesday, 2^nd August 2011

 

Statistics Highlight Concerns of Migrants in Ireland

 

– Almost 5,000 queries received by Immigrant Council this year, from 137 different nationalities –

 

The issue causing most concern for migrants in Ireland so far this year has been residency rights for parents of Irish citizen children.  That’s according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), which today (02.08.11) released statistics on the number and nature of calls to its helpline for the first six months of the year. 

 

The ICI runs a confidential information and referral service helpline, which provides information and advice about the immigration system for people who come to Ireland to visit, work, study or live.  Between 1^st January and 1^st July, the helpline dealt with 4,675 enquiries from people of 137 different nationalities. 

 

Zambrano Judgement

Residency rights for parents of Irish citizen children was the most common issue raised by callers to the helpline, accounting for almost 800 calls, compared with only 286 calls on this issue for the same time period last year. 

 

According to the ICI, the increase can be attributed to the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Zambrano case in March 2011, when the Court ruled that a non-EU national parent of an EU citizen child has the right to reside within an EU member state and to be granted a work permit.

 

“The Zambrano ruling had an immediate impact on our helpline service,” said Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of the ICI.  “We have received 791 calls on this issue so far this year and, in the immediate aftermath of the ruling, there was a huge spike in traffic to our website.  In response to the volume of enquiries, we delivered a number of public information sessions at local level and we also made detailed information available through our website and through the nationwide network of Citizens’ Information Centres.

 

“One interesting feature of our analysis around the helpline statistics is the higher than usual number of enquiries from people living outside of Ireland.  We received 325 queries from overseas callers this year, comparied to 178 for the same time period last year.  Again, this increase is directly attributable to the Zambrano ruling. 

 

“Many parents of Irish citizen children may be residing outside of the State, either by their own volition or because they were removed from the State on foot of a deportation order.  Many of these individuals have spouses or partners and children in Ireland, and are now seeking permission to join their families here.”

 

Other Issues of Concern to Migrants

In addition to the implications of the Zambrano judgement, the process for becoming an Irish citizen was an issue frequently raised by callers to the ICI helpline, with 644 calls received on this topic, a figure broadly consistent with the same time period for last year. 

 

Other issues cited by high numbers of callers were:

 

·         Renewal of status: 323 calls.

·         Leave to remain as a family member of an EEA (European Economic Area) / Swiss national: 258 calls.

·         Work permits: 232 calls.

·         Leave to remain as a family member (excluding parent) of an Irish national: 214 calls.

·         Family reunification with a spouse or partner: 204 calls.

·         Leave to remain on other grounds: 196 calls.

·         Long-term residency: 174 calls.

·         Visit visas: 148 calls.

 

“The issues raised by callers to the helpline – and the numbers of calls being received – are broadly consistent with trends in previous years,” said Denise Charlton.  “A prevalent myth in Ireland at the moment is that migrants are ‘going home’ because of the recession.  Far from demonstrating that they are leaving the country, our helpline statistics show that migrants are actively seeking to remain here and are increasingly concerned about the security of their immigration status.

 

“While there is evidence that many EU nationals are returning to their country of origin, many migrants in Ireland are from a non-EU background and do not enjoy the same freedom of movement as EU nationals.  Furthermore, they have invested considerable energy in establishing a life for themselves and their families here.  The evidence from our helpline statistics overwhelmingly shows that, rather than leaving the State, many are doing all in their power to remain here, to remain in employment, and to continue to choose Ireland as their home.”

 

Nationality of Callers

Calls to the ICI helpline so far this year came from people of 137 different nationalities.  The highest number of calls – 452 – was received by Nigerians.  Other nationalities contacting the helpline included:

 

·         Indian: 379 calls.

·         Pakistani: 152 calls.

·         South African: 113 calls.

·         Chinese: 110 calls.

·         Brazilian: 107 calls.

·         Irish: 100 calls.

·         Romanian: 98 calls.

·         American: 85 calls.

·         Filipino: 73 calls. 

 

“Migrants continue to turn to the ICI – and to other non-governmental organisations also – for access to timely and reliable information about immigration policy,” said Denise Charlton.  “A common complaint we receive from callers to our helpline is that they are unable to access the information they need from government sources and that information on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website can be unclear.  While the Government has so far demonstrated a welcome new attitude to dealing with immigration issues, it must also address the way it provides information to migrants about matters that so fundamentally affect them. 

 

“The ICI will continue to provide its helpline service to migrants, and we anticipate ongoing high numbers of calls over the coming months.” 

 

A report containing the helpline statistics and analysis is available to download from the ICI website at:  http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/submissions-policy-papers-and-analyses/2009-2010/494-information-and-referral-service-statistics-2011.

 

ENDS

 

Contact: Martina Quinn, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-6522033

 

Note to Editors:

About the Immigrant Council

The Immigrant Council of Ireland is an independent human rights organisation that advocates for the rights of migrants and their families and acts as a catalyst for public debate and policy change.  It is also an Independent Law Centre.  Further information on the Immigrant Council is available at: www.immigrantcouncil.ie.

 

About the Helpline

The ICI’s Information and Referral Service has seen demand for its services grow exponentially year on year since 2002, from an initial query level of 2,400 in 2003 to 9,895 in 2010.  The Service is available four days per week via a confidential telephone helpline every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between the hours of 10am and 12.30pm and 2pm and 4.30pm.  The ICI is also funded by the Citizens’ Information Board to provide a dedicated telephone helpline for staff of the nationwide network of Citizens’ Information Centres (CICs).  Through this helpline, CIC staff can access up-to-date information and advice on the immigration system and can, in turn, advise service-users at a local level about their immigration queries.