Annual Policy Report on Migration and Asylum 2014: Ireland

The Annual Policy Report on Migration and Asylum 2014 provides an overview of trends, policy developments and significant debates in the area of asylum and migration during 2014 in Ireland. Some important developments in 2014 included:-

• Changes to the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) were announced placing greater emphasis on the marketing and promotion of the programme.
• The Atypical Working Scheme was extended.
• Following closure of a number of private education colleges the Ministers for Education and Skills, and for Justice and Equality, announced the establishment of a Task Force on Students Affected by the Closure of Private Colleges.
• New guidelines for members of diplomatic missions to Ireland who intend to employ private domestic workers were introduced.
• The Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014 and the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 were introduced.
• The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill was enacted, with the new Commission formally established as from 1 November 2014.
• The Minister for Justice and Equality signed into law the European Union (Dublin System) Regulation 2014 (S.I. No. 525 of 2014).
• The civilianisation of certain border control functions was mainstreamed at Dublin airport.
• Arrangements were made by the Irish State to enable a person with a ‘live’ asylum application to also make an application for subsidiary protection to ORAC.
• A Working Group to examine improvements to the Protection Process and System of Direct Provision was established.
• Ireland agreed to accept the resettlement of 90 persons under the 2014 UNHCR-led resettlement quota which was dedicated to Syrian refugees
• Ireland announced a Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme (SHAP) to assist vulnerable persons in Syria and surrounding countries affected by conflict in the region.
• Ireland issued two declarations of statelessness for the first time during 2014.

  Key figures for 2014:

• Approximately 95,000 non-EEA nationals had permission to remain in the State, a decrease of 11 per cent year-on-year.
• Net migration among non-Irish nationals from outside the EU was estimated to be 11,200 (of which almost 20 per cent were Brazilian).
• The number of immigrants coming to Ireland increased year-on-year to 60,600 from 55,900.
• Almost half of the 81,900 people who emigrated in the 12 months to April 2014 were Irish nationals (40,700 persons, or 49.7 per cent).
• 2,475 persons were refused entry at Ireland’s external borders, with 900 persons found to be illegally present in the territory.
• A total of 114 persons were returned as part of forced return measures during the year, with 242 persons availing of voluntary return.
• 769 permissions granted to remain in Ireland.
• 1,448 applications for asylum were received by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC), with 132 positive recommendations for a declaration of refugee status at first instance.
• 30 applications for asylum were received from unaccompanied minors.
• 3,970 applications for subsidiary protection were received.
• A total of 167 applications for family reunification in respect of recognised refugees were received.
• 46 alleged victims of human trafficking were reported or detected.