an_dochasach wrote:The IBC05 scheme granted permission to remain to parents of Irish citizens who were born shortly before the citizenship referendum removed the "Jus soli" birthright of citizenship enjoyed by millions of Irish emigrants in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. The approximately 18,000 people on this scheme are now in a limbo where they cannot apply for long term residency as they would have been able to avail of if they'd remained 5 years in Ireland on any other visa or work permit. Naturalization takes at least two years and is not at all assured. Ireland only naturalizes 6 people for every 1000 immigrants, the second slowest and least efficient in the E.U.
Every 2-3 years the GNIB must ramp up staff and process IBC renewals. It is an inefficient process because of frequent changes in immigration policy and the government never plans for these renewals. In my estimation, it cost the GNIB well over €100,000 to process these and it costs the state at least 50,000 hours in lost productivity during the 3-8 hours of time it takes for IBC parents to wait in the immigration queue.
One proposal would be to eliminate this problem by deporting these 18,000 immigrants. But this would be a very expensive solution. The court cost of even one deportation is significant and the cost of actual deportation is huge. This would also almost certainly result in an economic backlash from the countries where these people are from.
My proposed reform is to create a fast track to naturalization for IBC parents. They have already demonstrated that they can support themselves and their children and that they are not criminals. (These conditions were specified in original IBC plan) There are some significant upsides:
- The fees for naturalization are nearly €1000 which could immediately add nearly €20 million to the Irish gov budget.
- Expensive vetting has already taken place
- Eliminate the cost of the bureaucracy necessary to keep track of these immigrants.
- These 18,000 people would be free to leave Ireland and work elsewhere in the E.U., reducing pressure on domestic labor force.
As far as the Minister is concern, and the law, see Loebe, the sole purpose of the parent's presence in Ireland is to raise the Irish Citizen Child so the status is not comparable in any way to work permit holders. A parent under the IBC already has a stamp 4 and has all the rights and access it possibly could need.
Provided that the parent remains an active parent to the child (even if he/she is separated from the other parent), remains crime free and remain economically viable, (which seems to be ignored by the Minister, due to the current economic situation), they will not really loose their stamp 4, in reality. So long as they do this, they will have little reason for minister to say no to a citizenship application, provided that they are at least 3 years self sufficient. The scheme is not intended to guarantee absolute residence to this class of people! If they are not active in the child's life, they loose their status. End of story, no ifs or buts. The fun will now start in 2010 onwards where these people will look to citizenship. Alot may not be eligible due to intial reliance on certain social welfare. But, provided that they comply with the above, the department would have difficulty in removing them. The interesting question will be what will happen when the child turns 18 years or 23 if in college. Practically, they will likely be sorted any way on an exception basis, due to time in Ireland. It might be open to parent to seek long term residency without condition to time (stamp 5 me thinks)
Long Term Residency, gives you a stamp 4. Why would you need it? It clearly is only open to stamp 1.
There is very good reason for renewals. THe minister is well aware that some families break up and the father tends to ignore their children. (an application for maintenance in court by mother, should be looked at postively by father under ibc, at least he then can prove link to child)
Last thing we want is this:
http://www.courts.ie/Judgments.nsf/23fd ... enDocument
Where is your estimations coming from? Do doubt they are highish, but its cheaper than when applications were needed to be made involving solicitors. My understanding, was that the application is rather simple now. Provide evidence of the above, get stamped at GNIB.
Its the social welfare bill thats more to be concerned so your comment that they can, (not for most part mind but quite a sizable proportion) live independently is groundless. What about those on supplementary rent allowance, single parent allowance, medical cards, and unemployment benefits. Some of the mothers, not all, have never worked. Now those that can show 3 year self sufficency they get in. But why should they be rewarded, compared to a work permit holder?.
THe reality is, look at dimbo and loebe for the facts provided in court by the department, that most of these people came in as asylum seekers, who were really in effect economic migrants. Because Ireland is prohibited from turning them away in order to make an application, many, were heavily pregnant (look don't deny this, the people did not need to read the media guff and "propaganda" to see this for themselves. They made applications and dropped their asylum case immediately, i thought that they were afraid of going home. Two cases to point out, one above and on publicised case in RTE of a particular former mayor in a particular town in the midlands went home to nigeria to a hero's welcome. Yet, come did he come here? failed asylum application then ibc. I thought he was scared of returning. Most, but not all of these people come in undocumented (for natural reasons may i add) Many are economic migrants who do not follow the normal procedure for entering a country - ie visa, work permit
On the other hand, a work permit and even an international student does obtain correct permission to enter the state. (I am not saying IBC should not get citizenship. I am saying that should not be given priority of others)
As for the proposal to deport, not a chance way too expensive and not worth it for those that have made decent use of same. Anyway, there cases would now be stronger as in 2003 when dimbo compared and contrast itself from fajounu (ie length of time and link in country)
IBC parents want citizens let them join the que, there is not particularily special about the group,
. Still who are the Irish to pontificate, all those Irish - American leaders in Tammany Hall Nork York we not all legal when they first graced the States.