Written answers

Thursday, 28 September 2023

Department of Justice and Equality

Family Reunification

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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222. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of her Department's review of eligibility requirements for family reunification; the timeline she is working towards; if this review will address issues related to family reunification for non-EEA healthcare assistants under the general employment permit (details supplied); the engagements she has had with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding non-EEA healthcare assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41971/23]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The current immigration arrangements for family reunification are set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's website. The policy document sets out the rationale for applying resource requirements as part of the overall assessment of whether to approve an application for family reunification.

In general terms, the sponsor must demonstrate their capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland. Separately, it is open to spouses of general employment permit holders to apply for employment permits in their own right and enter the State and work.

A review of the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy is currently underway. The review, which is at an advanced stage, is examining a wide range of matters relating to family reunification, including those relating to holders of the general employment permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The review will be informed by considerations of relevant Government Departments, including those of the the Department of Health and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment who have roles in regulation, employment rights, and minimum wages in relation to the health sector .

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