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Immigration Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (752)

Robert Dowds

Question:

752. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his reasons for increasing the registration fee for most categories of legal immigrants from outside the EEA by 100% from November; and if he intends to continue the fee at its current level. [58032/12]

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Written answers

A fee for the issue of a registration certificate under the Immigration Act, 2004 was first introduced in May, 2006 for the purpose of raising fee income as a contribution to the cost of the ongoing development of immigration services (both in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Our migrant population have made a valuable contribution to the economic, cultural and social life of Ireland and will continue to do so. However, I believe that it is not unreasonable to ask those who benefit from the immigration system to make a reasonable contribution to the cost of services and particularly so in a time when we are seeking to reduce public expenditure. It is common practice throughout Europe to charge a fee for immigration services; in some instances these may be set at a level above the estimated direct administrative cost of the service based on the value of the service. By comparison with many jurisdictions the current registration fee represents very good value.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department is undertaking a number of projects with the aim of developing and improving immigration services. These include the introduction of a new common format EU Residence Permit for non-nationals which will replace the current registration certificate. It will provide the user with a more secure immigration document including individual biometrics indicators protected by a sophisticated encryption system and showing the holders’ immigration status in the State. This high quality secure document will be easily recognisable for employers and Government agencies.

Furthermore, INIS as part of its reform of in-country aspects of immigration services, is developing a range of measures including online application and appointment systems for certain services. Such a service is badly needed, but it does cost money to implement. The nature of immigration requirements such as registration necessitates, to a very great extent, the personal attendance of the applicant. At certain times of the year this can give rise to long queues and significant delays. A self-selecting online system will help to greatly alleviate these difficulties and the increased registration fee income will be used to meet a portion of the cost involved in this and other developments undertaken.

The fee was first introduced in 2006 and was then set at €100. It was increased to €150 in 2008 and remained at that level until the latest increase came into effect on 19 November, 2012. While I have no immediate plans for further changes to the fee for the issue of a registration certificate, it is the practice to keep all fees under review.

I should point out that in recognition of the circumstances of certain categories of person, there are specific exemptions from paying the registration fee set out in the regulations; these are the following:

- UN Convention Refugees;

- Family members of such refugees who have been admitted to the State in accordance with section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996;

- Persons who are under 18 years of age at the time of registration;

- Spouses, civil partners, widows and widowers of Irish citizens;

- Spouses and Dependants of EU nationals who receive a residence permit under EU Directive 38/04;

- Programme Refugees, as defined by section 24 of the Refugee Act, 1996;

- Persons subject to arrangements for victims of human trafficking.

The above categories of non-nationals exempted from the fee payment are almost 24.4% of the total numbers registering. In 2012, this amounted to 22,781 persons and €3.78 million in fees waived.

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