Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1429.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, in relation to the family reunion policy which is currently under review by her Department, she has plans to change the family reunion policy in order that anyone in full-time employment can have their immediate family with them from the start; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30977/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1436.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the delay in full-time employees here having their immediate family members join them under the family reunification policy; and the measures she is undertaking to address this delay to ensure that families are reunited in a timely and efficient manner. [31083/24]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1443.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update in respect of her review of the family reunification policy; the date on which she intends to publish same; and the steps she may take post-review. [31187/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1470.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the review currently being undertaken by her Department regarding family reunification in respect of persons who are permitted to work in the State will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31257/24]

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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1474.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to an advocacy group-led campaign that seeks changes to the family reunification policy to allow all non-EEA nationals in full-time employment to apply for family reunification; if any research has been carried out into this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31301/24]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1504.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update in relation to her review of family re-unification laws and procedures for migrant workers. [31674/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1429, 1436, 1443, 1470, 1474 and 1504 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review. The review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. Officials from my Department have consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders. That engagement will continue and my expectation is that the review will be brought to conclusion later this year.

Insofar as current arrangements are concerned, holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP) can apply for immediate family reunification at the same time as their own visa permission is being sought and they are processed in tandem. If the CSEP holder chooses not to apply for immediate reunification, applications for Join Family visas can be made at any time after they enter the state. A person residing in the State on the basis of a General Employment permit (GEP) is eligible to apply for family reunification after 12 months. Separately, it is open to spouses of general employment permit holders to apply for employment permits in their own right and enter the State for that purpose.

While I fully understand that all people moving to Ireland to live and work would wish to have their family join them, the issues to be examined as part of a family reunification application are complex. An important consideration in all family reunification applications, for example, is the ability of the sponsor to demonstrate a clear capacity to provide for their family member(s) if they are to be granted a permission to come to Ireland.

I can also advise that, with effect from 15 May 2024, the first part of the review was implemented in that eligible spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee Irish Employment Permit holders, who have applied for and been granted family reunification, in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will now be registered on a Stamp 1G permission, rather than a Stamp 3. This will allow the holder to take up employment without the need to obtain a separate Employment Permit of their own.