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IRELAND
Applicants may apply for assistance at any stage during the asylum process, until a deportation
order has been issued, thus persons in detention are not excluded from participation. As long as
a deportation order has not been issued, Irish authorities will allow the individual to re-enter the
country at a later stage, provided the appropriate entry requirements are met, although there is no
evidence yet to corroborate these measures.
Recent developments in Irish immigration legislation (Immigration Act 2002), which allow citizenship
to be granted to all children born in Ireland, irrespective of the immigration status of the
parent, have had significant implications for the families involved. To reduce the severe disruptions
to family life, the Irish government has adopted a number of measures, which include
accepting representations for residency from undocumented parents with Irish-born children
and the initiation of return and reintegration programmes for families with Irish-born children
and unaccompanied minors who wish to return to their parents’ country of origin.
2.2 ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS
Institutions Responsible for Voluntary Return
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the main department responsible for
immigration legislation and policy, funds Ireland’s Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme. On
the basis of a memorandum, IOM is the leading implementing organization for the programme,
and acts in cooperation with refugee agencies, NGOs, community organizations and UNHCR.
Operational Steps for Voluntary Return
Voluntary Assisted Return Programme (continuation of previous AVR to Romania and Nigeria
but now open to all Non EEA countries)
This programme is available principally to facilitate the voluntary return of non-EEA nationals,
who wish to return to their country of origin, but do not have the means to do so. As a prerequisite,
applicants are obliged to withdraw their applications for asylum before departure.
Applicants may also include irregular and other destitute migrants in need of IOM assistance.
TABLE 2
VOLUNTARY ASSISTED RETURN PROGRAMME
(CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS AVR TO ROMANIA AND NIGERIA
BUT NOW OPEN TO ALL NON-EEA COUNTRIES)
Eligible Beneficiaries: Individuals from non-EEA countries, who have either
pending asylum claims or have been refused a
declaration that they are a refugee or who are
residing in the country without permission.
Budget: EUR 673,355.14 (including transportation costs)
Funding Source: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Assistance to Date
(end 2003):
420