In a statement released to mark World Refugee Day, the IHREC criticised the Government for narrowing access to family reunification for people who had been granted international protection in Ireland since the introduction of the 2015 International Protection Act three years ago. It described the decision not to allow refugees to apply for reunification with extended family and the statutory time limit on applications as “retrogressive”. The commission plans to raise the issue of Irish legislation on family reunification with the UN as part of the review of the State’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Up until the end of 2016, under the Refugee Act 1996, refugees in Ireland were entitled to apply for family reunification with grandparents, parents, siblings, children, wards or guardians. The IHREC has also called on the Department of Justice to introduce an independent appeals process for families who are refused family reunification.

Source: The Irish Times June 20, 2019 18:33 UTC