2026-01-27

149. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total number of people who were granted permission to enter the State under the family reunification scheme, where the sponsor held refugee or subsidiary protection status, in 2025. [6121/26]

155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is concerned that family members of refugees will be endangered by his proposals to limit access to family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6019/26]

I ask the Minister to present to us the total number of people granted permission to enter the State under the family reunification scheme, where the sponsor held refugee or subsidiary protection status in 2025.

I thank Deputy Gannon. I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 155 together. The answer for 2025 is 669. The answer for 2024 was 979. Deputy Gannon has asked me questions in respect of refugee status applications for family protection. As he will be aware, there is another type of family reunification that arises as well. That is for individuals who have not been granted refugee status but are individuals who are here working. That is referred to as non-EEA family reunification. That process is not a statutory scheme. It is an administrative scheme that is run by my Department. Recently, I updated the rules in respect of that family reunification process as well. On the numbers for non-EEA, I think they were in the region of 18,000 in 2024 or 2025 - one or the other. There is also a third type of family reunification, which is in respect of people joining from EU countries who are permitted to be here to work. The Deputy's question, I suspect, arises in the context of the proposals that have been announced by Government to deal with new family reunification rules in the International Protection Bill 2026, which will be introduced in the Dáil tomorrow. What guides the Government and me in regard to proposals in respect of family reunification is that at present, family reunification can be secured for a refugee the day after they are granted refugee status. When it comes to the assessment of the grant of family reunification, on the one hand we have to balance the rights of the individual refugee to seek family reunification but we also have to balance it with the rights and interests of the public with regard to the impact it may have on public well-being and the public purse. They are perfectly legitimate factors that have to be taken into account. It is necessarily the case that because somebody is coming through family reunification, the rules at present for refugees are that they do not have to show they are going to be able to support an individual they bring into the country as part of their family. My view, and that of the Government, is that the same or similar rules should apply for those who can bring in family under non-EEA. If you want to bring a family member in, you really need to be able to show you can support that family member.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I am very familiar with the differences between the three schemes, which is why I very specifically framed my question in the context of the family reunification scheme under the refugee scheme. I am glad the Minister gave me an exact figure of 669 because I found it quite eye-opening when he was doing an interview with "RTÉ News: Six One" a couple of weeks ago when this scheme was announced. He was asked the exact same question and his answer, to give a definition, was that it was approximately 1,000. There is a big difference between approximately 1,000 and 669.

I was referring to 2024.

In fact, it is almost 50% of a difference. I will go into the details of why family reunification is catered for under the Geneva Convention because it is very different. I could understand the logic if the Minister tells me that somebody comes here on a work visa and would need to be able to demonstrate. I can see that argument. I may not agree with it in its entirety but refugees have already gone through the system. They have proven their capacity to be eligible for refugee status and to have a family member here gives them the capacity to integrate, find work and be able to support. The three schemes are very different. They need to be seen that way.

When I was asked that question on RTÉ, it was in the very early part of January and I was asked what the number was for last year. I thought that was a reference to 2024 and as I said to the Deputy, in 2024 it was 979. That is what I was referring to. In 2025, it was 669. The Government is entitled to take into account the consequences and cost of family reunification for individuals who are coming here sponsored by refugees. I know it is a sensitive issue but it is hugely affected by the numbers of people in general seeking asylum in the country. Prior to Covid, as the Deputy will know, we had relatively small numbers seeking international protection. It was around 3,000 to 4,000 per year but in the years 2022 to 2025, inclusive, collectively we saw around 58,000 arrive seeking international protection. I have to be conscious of the fact that the numbers are rising very significantly and I think that has to guide the laws that Governments introduce.

Again, I am very specifically referring to the refugee family reunification scheme. We have a high bar in this country already to achieve refugee status. In order to achieve that, the person needs to demonstrate that they fled war, persecution or that their family is from a place where loss of life would have been a possibility or a direct threat to life. It is actually only 669 people and it is immediate spouse, your wife, your husband, your child or, in the case of a child that has come here, it is just their parent. There is already an 18-month wait for the family reunification scheme. If a child comes here unaccompanied at the age of 15 or 16, they would have to wait three years, so they have already timed out of the system. I do not doubt that the Minister has a difficult job but for this particular policy change, I do not think it is reflective of a fair or just system. There is still time to change; I understand the Minister is bringing through amendments to the International Protection Bill. I would ask him that maybe we should just reflect on this particular scheme, taking all the others out and dealing with them individually. This one actually aids integration and helps the person who has already proven their status beyond a very high bar.

I will go to the European Court of Human Rights. In its judgments it has consistently said that when it comes to family reunification, a member state is entitled to engage in a balancing act to ensure there is a fair balance between, on the one hand, the applicant's interest in being reunited with his family and, on the other, the interest of the community as a whole to control immigration with a view to protecting the economic well-being of the country, ensuring the effective integration of those granted protection and preserving social cohesion. That is a diktat that is used repeatedly by the European Court of Human Rights in challenges to family reunification. In regard to family reunification as well, I have a breakdown here of the figures on the make-up of the family relationships for the numbers coming in. It is not just daughters, sons, husbands or mothers; it is also brothers and sisters.

I know what the refugee scheme is for.

It is a broad collection of family members that come within the parameters of the definition. As the Deputy said, the legislation is going to be introduced. The family reunification issues will be considered on Committee Stage. I will keep an open mind in respect of it but I do think there will be changes, definitely. I will say that to the Deputy-----

Absolutely, to that particular scheme.

-----and if he puts forward amendments, I will give consideration to them.