Ireland

The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible expression of the Irish Government's support of, commitment to, and interest in the global Irish community. It aims to strengthen the international Irish community and its bond with Ireland. Through this programme the Government wants to fund projects that will have a clear and identifiable impact on supporting and building global Irish communities.

The Government, through the Emigrant Support Programme, is committed to prioritising the following:

The EU Temporary Protection Directive has now been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. The Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression.

Ireland participates in this measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

In the framework of the EUROMED Migration V project, trainings to sensitise journalists and media professionals about the benefits of promoting a balanced narrative on migration are organised. Public Communicatorsí Workshops are developed to highlight the central role of public communicators in informing the public debate on migration, and in shaping people's perceptions of migration.

Making migration and mobility positive forces for development
1. Bring together representatives of diaspora communities and governments of countries of origin and destination for round-table debates on sharing best practices and on recognising the role and needs of diaspora communities in development and investment in countries of origin as well as in integration in the host societies.

The Migrant Voter Project was launched on behalf of Dublin City Council’s Office for Integration as part of the “Declaration on Integration “a formally signed document involving key leaders of state and city organizations.”

This Declaration is unique in the Irish context, establishing a pact on integration at city level and a strong message of commitment to the immigrant population of the city of Dublin. The Declaration commits to promoting, and supporting the integration of the immigrant population within the political, social and economic life of the city. 

IOM offices and partners launched Skills2Work to improve the access of employers and beneficiaries to information and services related to skills recognition.

The Skills2Work project aims to promote labour market integration of refugees by promoting the early validation of formal and informal skills and competences. This is achieved by supporting the reception framework and capacities of relevant authorities, service providers and employers, and by enhancing access to information and services regarding the recognition of skills and qualifications of refugees. 

The IGC is an informal, non-decision making forum for intergovernmental information exchange and policy debate on issues of relevance to the management of international migratory flows.

The IGC brings together 16 Participating States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the European Commission. The Participating States are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America.

The EU Immigration Portal serves as a first point of entry to reliable, practical and up-to-date information on immigration issues. It provides useful basic information written in user-friendly language and gives rapid and direct access to relevant external websites for further information. In concrete terms, the portal helps potential migrants to:

- Better understand the EU admission rules and procedures;

- Identify job and study opportunities;

- Find information on the rights of non-EU citizens who are in the EU;

Traditionally Ireland has been a country marked by a declining population and high rates of emigration. Within the last two decades this situation has reversed dramatically. Immigration has increased significantly in the context of rapid economic growth. At first, flows were driven by returning Irish emigrants, but from the early 2000s non-EU nationals began to arrive in significant numbers for the first time, mainly to work but also to seek asylum. The scale of these developments put Irish policy-makers under pressure and the response was often ad hoc.

Launched in 1994, EURES is a European cooperation network of employment services, designed to facilitate the free movement of workers. The network has always worked hard to ensure that European citizens can benefit from the same opportunities, despite language barriers, cultural differences, bureaucratic challenges, diverse employment laws and a lack of recognition of educational certificates across Europe.

This web portal provides information on access to job opportunities in 32 European countries. It also promotes the cooperation amongst national employment agencies.