Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The Deputy's question relates to returning Irish emigrants. I refer to a number of developments that have taken place. The HRC distinguishes between people who return to the State for a temporary period and those who return with the intention of settling permanently or at least on a long-term basis. The Department's guidelines indicate the evidence that enables a deciding officer to distinguish that, for instance, the sale of a residence or termination of employment abroad, the shipping of property and personal effects back to Ireland, no immediate family remaining abroad and the expiry of a foreign residence permit, if one was required in the country in which the claimant resided.

The Department met representatives of Safe-Home and Crosscare in May 2010. The attention of officers in the Department was drawn to the arrangements made by Safe-Home for the repatriation of Irish emigrants. When I visited London for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations shortly after my appointment, I met the representatives of several organisations assisting Irish emigrants, some of whom were returning to Ireland. The issue is an information gap between the two sides but a claimant must show clearly that he or she is returning to Ireland. In the case referred to by the Deputy, the individual had lived for a long period in the UK and was returning to Ireland. Applicants have to show they do not intend to return to the UK. Deciding officers look for evidence that they no longer maintain a home or rent a property there and they have transferred their interest back to Ireland.

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