Immigration

Immigration solicitors in Northern Ireland have ended two months of industrial action following an agreement with the Department of Justice. Members of the Immigration Practitioners' Group (IPG) withdraw services at the beginning of February in a dispute over remuneration.

Belfast firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has recruited Nick Bennett as an associate in the firm's employment and immigration department. Mr Bennett has been practising as an immigration solicitor since 2019 and brings over 12 years' experience in immigration services to the firm, having spent time working

Jim O'Callaghan yesterday attended a UK government summit aimed at improving international co-ordination to tackle "organised immigration crime". Representatives from more than 40 countries attended the London event, hosted by the UK prime minister Keir Starmer and home secretary Yvette Cooper.

The High Court has granted an injunction restraining the minister for justice from implementing a decision to suspend applications made by him on behalf of high net worth parties under the Immigrant Investor Programme. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Mr Justice Anthony Barr emphasised: &ldqu

Plans for a new EU-wide legal framework for deportations, including to "return hubs" established in non-EU countries, have been condemned by human rights campaigners as "unworkable, expensive and inhumane". The European Commission yesterday proposed the establishment of a common European system for

Town planners have been added to the critical skills occupation list in a bid to ease pressure on Ireland's planning system. The change makes town planning officers who are non-EEA nationals from outside of Europe eligible for critical skills employment permits, making it easier for Irish emplo

Nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho and Nauru are now required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. The change, which takes effect from today, also applies to transit visas, which will now be required for nationals of those countries intending to transit through Ireland en route to another dest

A number of people have been deported to Georgia on the first chartered deportation flight under a contract signed by the Irish government late last year. According to media reports, 32 people — 28 men, three women and one child — were removed on the flight from Dublin to Tbilisi yesterd

Belfast-based Phoenix Law has promoted immigration solicitor Sinead Marmion to the position of senior associate. Ms Marmion joined the firm in 2019 and acts in all areas of asylum and immigration law, spanning multiple practice areas including human rights, public law and litigation.

Irish citizenship applications from the UK are at a record high, according to reports. Last year saw 42,808 applications through the foreign births register (FBR), which provides a route to citizenship for those with Irish grandparents or parents, with 23,456 coming from the UK, FT revealed.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a mother’s appeal against the refusal by the minister for foreign affairs to grant an Irish passport to her child born in Ireland in 2019. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly determined that while the appellant’s mother &l

The government is reportedly considering calls for an increase in the fees paid to members of International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). A number of part-time tribunal members are taking strike action over the level of fees, which can be as low as €248 for a fast-tracked appeal in respec

A record-breaking 200 people attended a conference organised by the Irish Immigration Lawyers Association (IILA) late last year. The association, founded in 2021 by solicitors specialising in immigration law, exists to promote and improve advice and representation in immigration, citizenship, a

The transfer of immigration registration functions from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice has been completed. From 13 January 2025, all first-time registrations will be handled, in person, at the Burgh Quay Registration Office

Hilkka Becker, chairperson of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), has been appointed as an adjunct professor in law at Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology. An expert in migration and asylum law, Ms Becker has a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in leadership