Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
909. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the process through which a person who has qualified for refugee status in the State but who has young children in their home country may go about seeking to bring their children to Ireland. [42346/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person can apply for family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015 if they have been granted a declaration as a Convention Refugee, are a beneficiary of Subsidiary Protection or if they have been granted Programme Refugee status.
Under Section 56 of the 2015 Act, the following family members are eligible for family reunification:
- Spouse - the marriage must have subsisted on the date the application for international protection in the State was lodged;
- Civil Partner- the civil partnership must have subsisted on the date the application for international protection in the State was lodged;
- Parent(s) and their children (under 18 and unmarried) if the sponsor was under 18 and unmarried on the date the application for family reunification in the State was lodged; and
- A child of the sponsor, who is under the age of 18 and unmarried when the sponsor made an application for family reunification in the State.
Applications for Family Reunification under the 2015 Act can be made to my Department by email to FRU_IPA@justice.ie or in hard copy to Family Reunification Unit, Department of Justice, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Full details on the application process can be found on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/.
