New rules for immigrant parents begin today

Immigrant parents can no longer seek residency in Ireland on the basis of having Irish-born children, under rules that come into effect today.

After a Supreme Court judgment last month, non-EU immigrant parents no longer have an automatic right to remain in the country.

In recent years many immigrants entered Ireland as asylum seekers then claimed residency once they became parents in the country.

Last year more than 4,000 non-EU citizens were granted residency on the grounds of having Irish children.

The move to stop residency applications on the basis of parentage will not affect the 1,100 outstanding applications from parents of children born as far back as September 2001, a Justice Department spokesman said.

Almost 90% of these applications have been made by people who had been or still are asylum applicants.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has ruled out mass deportations of people whose applications are being processed, saying cases would be handled individually.

He has also indicated that the length of time the parents of Irish children have lived in the State would be a key factor in considering applications.

The new rule follows last month’s Supreme Court case in which judges dismissed an appeal by two families hoping to remain in Ireland on the grounds that their children were born in Ireland.

The Dublin court ruled by a majority of five to two that having Irish-born children did not confer automatic residency, and that the two families should be deported.