Minister Helen McEntee announces further temporary extension of immigration permissions.
Helen McEntee TD
Applies to permissions due to expire between 15th January 2022 and 31st May 2022.
Extension applies to people with permissions extended under previous notices.
For permissions registered by the Immigration Service in Dublin and An Garda Síochána nationwide.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to May 31st, 2022.
This applies to permissions that are due to expire between January 15th 2022 and May 31st 2022 and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous eight temporary extensions since March 2020.
Announcing the measure, Minister McEntee said:
“This Christmas, because of the evolving COVID-19 situation and ongoing public health guidelines, many immigration customers may fear they will lose their current immigration permission because of the potential impact of restrictions on the delivery of our services.
To remove some of the worry and stress caused by this uncertainty, I want to reassure people whose immigration permissions are due to expire shortly that your legal status in the country will continue to be maintained. To do this, I am introducing a further automatic extension to May 31st, 2022 for anyone already holding a valid permission.
This extension will benefit those who cannot get an appointment to register or renew an existing permission. However, I encourage anyone who needs to renew an existing permission, particularly Dublin-based customers who can do so online, to do so and not to wait until May when demand will be very high.
To help meet the existing demand for first-time registration appointments in the Dublin region, my Department is introducing a new Freephone telephone booking system in January to ensure those who need an appointment can access one.”
Further details on the Freephone system will be available on www.irishimmigration.ie when the service begins. A new online booking system will also be launched early in 2022.
Customers in the State who are entitled to receive a new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card may continue to use their current expired card to enable them to depart from and return to Ireland in confidence over Christmas and until 15 January 2022.
Adult customers who plan to travel abroad beyond January 15th 2022 should apply to renew their immigration permission and receive a new IRP card. Otherwise, they must secure a re-entry visa in Ireland before travelling or in an overseas visa office before returning.
The current suspension of the re-entry visa requirement for any minors travelling with a legally resident parent or guardian, a measure which benefits up to 6,000 children and their families, will continue in line with the new extension until May 31st 2022.
The Department’s immigration service is experiencing a high demand for services and the Minister and her officials continue to implement initiatives to deliver benefits for customers.
Further outlining the latest improvements, Minister McEntee said,
“From today, Dublin-based customers who have a new passport and who wish to renew an immigration permission will be able to upload their passport biodata page online instead of attending the Registration Office in Burgh Quay. This move will free up staff resources and improve the processing times for existing applications.”
Immigration staff are processing 1,000 first-time registrations every week in the Registration Office in Burgh Quay, which is the maximum allowed under current public health guidelines, and the office is open from Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 8:30 pm and Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm.
Renewals outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory
International students
International English Language Students who have already completed the maximum number of three language courses may continue to work in line with the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) criteria until May 31st 2022, without enrolling in a further English language course.
However, they must register for a new qualifying immigration permission by May 31st 2022 to ensure they can remain in the State after that date.
More focused and co-ordinated enforcement is needed by local authorities to protect water and air quality, cautions EPA.
Local authority inspection numbers remained high (180,000 in 2020) despite the impact of COVID-19. However, water inspections decreased by 30 per cent and air and noise inspections decreased by 10 per cent.
Focused water quality enforcement and follow through on non-compliances in key areas such as farm and septic tank inspections needs improvement.
The burning of non-complaint solid fuel remains a key issue impacting on human health, with co-ordinated and targeted inspections of fuel supplies required.
More resources need to be targetted at water and air enforcement to address the environmental and health challenges highlighted.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today released its report on local authority environmental enforcement activities for 2020. The EPA has seen a high level of inspections and enforcement actions carried out by local authorities, with the bulk of these relating to waste and litter. Local authorities also handled a substantial volume of environmental complaints during the year – predominantly relating to waste issues.
River Suir, Barry’s Bridge, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Waste enforcement activities largely remained resilient in 2020. However, the EPA found progress on water and air enforcement priorities lagged behind waste enforcement, primarily due to having less resources assigned to them and a lack of enforcement co-ordination services, across the local authorities.
EPA stated: “The resilience of the waste enforcement activities and better co-ordination through the support of the regional waste shared services is to be commended. However, it is concerning to see the reduced enforcement activity in water, air and noise, given the decline in our water quality and the impact of poor air quality and noise on the environment and human health. Local authorities must address these challenges as a matter of priority in their enforcement activities.”
The national water quality monitoring programme was substantially completed by local authorities, providing up to date information on water quality. However, there is not enough evidence that this information is being used effectively by local authorities to target local enforcement efforts.
Mr Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“National water monitoring data is showing a continuing decline in water quality and more needs to be done to protect our water environment. Local authorities need to make sure that they are targeting inspections of farms and septic tanks in the areas of greatest risk and are taking effective enforcement action where non-compliances are found.”
In addition, the burning of non-complaint solid fuels remains a key issue impacting on air quality and human health. Local authorities should engage in co-ordinated and targeted inspections of solid fuel supplies and take follow-up enforcement actions to ensure that the environment and health are protected.
The Focus on Local Authority Environmental Enforcement Report 2020 is available on the EPA website, which contains an infographic highlighting the main findings from the report.
Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office 053-9170770(24 hours) or media@epa.ie
Munster Strategic Investments, Mocklers Hill, Cashel, Co Tipperary, owners of the Kilcoran Lodge Hotel Leisure Centre, Bohemarnane, County Tipperary, were granted leave to apply for the appointment of an examiner on Tuesday 7th December last, in the Circuit Civil Court, in a bid to save the business and the jobs of some 37 employees.
Barrister Mr Ross Gorman told Judge Mr Cormac Quinn that while the company was currently unable to pay its debts, an independent expert was of the view that it could be saved through the appointment of an examiner.
The company had been incorporated back in November 2015, by directors Mr Paul Bowes and his daughter Ms Triona Bowes, both with an address at Mocklers Hill, Cashel, but the business had suffered financial trading difficulties, due mainly to the effect of the Covid Pandemic; forcing it to close from March to July of 2020. This closure had placed a significant impact on the company’s then turnover in 2020 which was approximately €495,000.
In 2018 the company had acquired Kilcoran Lodge Hotel for just under €1.68million funded through several Chinese investors under the immigration investment programme whereby non-EU nationals invest a minimum of €1million in an Irish business and in return obtain a residency visa in Ireland.
Judge Cormac Quinn stated that he would allow an application for the appointment of an examiner to be made today, December 17th 2021.
The Department of Health has confirmed a further 4,141 new cases of Covid-19, over the past 24 hours, here in the Irish Republic.
The number of people currently hospitalised with the virus, stands at 443, down 27 on yesterday’s figures, with 108 of these being treated in intensive care units around the country, an increase of 3 cases, also since yesterday.
There have been 8 Covid-19 deaths of persons, here in the Irish republic, all under the age of 25 years, since the start of the pandemic here. There were also 19 virus related deaths within the last seven days to last Tuesday.
Yesterday saw the largest number of booster doses administered here in the Republic at over 50,000.
As of this morning, the total number of booster vaccines administered in the Irish Republic was 1.35 million.
Dr Colm Henry has stated that there is an emerging concern about the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, which now represents some 27% of emerging cases here in the Republic of Ireland.
The Director of Public Health at the HSE’s National Immunisation Office has that the National Immunisation Advisory Committee very strongly recommends the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, who have other underlying conditions, or who are living with a younger child with complex medical needs, or indeed who are living with someone who is immunocompromised.
Another 2,237 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Northern Ireland today, up from 2,156 yesterday.
Today, there were 309 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospitals down from 315 cases also reported yesterday. There remain 32 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospital intensive care units.
Sadly, 6 Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland, with the total number of deaths linked to Covid-19, since the start of the pandemic, now standing at 2,942.
Please, Please do take all measures necessary to ensure a safe Christmas in Co. Tipperary.
Minister McEntee encourages people to think about career in An Garda Síochána ahead of new recruitment campaign.
Minister asks people in new Irish and minority communities to apply
New regulations remove requirement for applicants to be proficient in two languages
New Irish language strategy to be launched by An Garda Síochána
Vital that An Garda Síochána represents the Ireland of today
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today urged people, especially those in minority and new Irish communities, to consider a career in An Garda Síochána ahead of a new recruitment campaign opening early in the New Year.
In line with the Government’s commitment to strengthen and support An Garda Síochána as it protects and serves our communities, a new Garda Trainee Recruitment campaign is due to commence early in 2022.
The last recruitment competition was held in early 2019. Successful applicants are placed on a panel from which they are drawn by An Garda Síochána for training when required by the Garda Commissioner.
The Government has next year committed to the recruitment of 800 extra Gardaí and 400 Garda staff and is dedicated to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána.
Minister McEntee today urged people, particularly those from new Irish and minority communities, to think over the Christmas break about applying to become a member of An Garda Síochána.
Minister McEntee said:
“As Minister for Justice, protecting communities and supporting victims is my absolute priority, and the Government’s support for An Garda Síochána reflects that commitment.
The greatest strength of An Garda Síochána is its bond with the communities it serves. Our own national life has been greatly enriched by so many new communities of different origin in recent decades. But significant work is still required across the public sector – not least the justice sector – to make sure our new and minority communities are better represented, as well as to improve gender equality. I want everyone in our society, such as our African-Irish and Traveller communities, to see members of their own communities serving in An Garda Síochána.
I know Commissioner Harris and all members of An Garda Síochána are dedicated to increasing diversity within the organisation. I have discussed this with the Commissioner and I am very pleased that a vigorous campaign will be launched by An Garda Síochána to encourage as many people as possible to apply. Our new recruitment campaign provides a great opportunity to increase diversity within the service and I urge people from these communities to seriously think over Christmas about applying in the New Year.”
The Commission on the future of Policing in Ireland noted that diversity is a vital asset to any organisation that seeks to be innovative and adaptable.
The Minister made her comments after she received Cabinet approval this week for new regulations which will allow An Garda Síochána hold the new recruitment competition.
These new Regulations, amending the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, will allow for a broader appeal for service with An Garda Síochána to reflect the increasing diversity of Irish Society.
In addition to technical amendments required to reflect changes in legislation from the Refugee Act 1996 to the International Protections Act 2015, the requirement for applicants to be proficient in two languages, one of which must be English or Irish, is also being changed.
As currently worded, the requirement for proficiency in two languages is acting as a barrier to more diverse recruitment.
Under the amended regulations, proficiency will only be required in one language – which can be English or Irish. This will remove any potential disadvantage for people not born in Ireland who do not have any experience with the Irish language.
An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and studies in the Irish language will remain part of the Policing BA. A new Irish Language Strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána and will be launched early in 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen Irish language services within An Garda Síochána and ensure compliance with statutory language obligations.
The Minister continued,
“I want these new regulations to send out a message and to encourage interest from all communities across Ireland in a career with An Garda Síochána. Of course, An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and I look forward to its new strategy. I would also take this opportunity to encourage more women to apply for a career in An Garda Síochána. In recent years we have made great strides to address the gender imbalance in An Garda Síochána, especially at the most senior levels, but I want to see more women entering the service, as I know they are fully capable and can make such a difference to their local community“.
An Garda Síochána are working to produce a combined internal and external Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy in early 2022.
Minister McEntee concluded,
“I welcome the many diversity initiatives being actively pursued by An Garda Síochána. The Intern Programme for Garda Staff, which aims to promote a career in An Garda Síochána among young people from communities traditionally underrepresented in the organisation by offering the opportunity of an internship, commenced on 30 November with the first 26 interns. I am confident that this scheme will be a huge success and will demonstrate to all communities that there is a place for them in An Garda Síochána.”
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