Welcome to the website of the Refugee Information Service (RIS). Over the years we have embarked on a process of transformation and repositioning our work in line with our overall mission as a specialist nationwide information and advocacy provider for asylum seekers, refugees, people with leave to remain and people with subsidiary protection.
Particularly, we have put a lot of energy into providing accurate and up-to-date information on the rights and entitlements of people in the migrant community that we come in contact with in our information and advocacy clinics in Dublin and Galway. We have also contributed to developments at local, national and international scenes in the areas of immigration, protection, social inclusion and integration.
In pursuit of these objectives, we have also redesigned and developed our website to meet up to the growing demand for fast and effective information on issues that concern our client groups. We hope that you will find our new website easy to navigate and user friendly and we will welcome any suggestions for improvement from time to time.
Have a wonderful browsing experience!
Josephine Ahern
Chief Executive Officer
The Refugee Information Service (RIS) has praised the decision of government to extend the period of time allowed for migrant workers to find new employment after losing their jobs.
Josephine Ahern, CEO said: “Allowing certain migrant workers who have lived in the State for under five years and who possess a valid work permit to be given six months to find a new job if they are made redundant, is a step forward by government in terms of tackling the growing unemployment problem in Ireland although it will still be difficult for individuals in this circumstance to find work given the prevailing economic realities.
The Refugee Information Service (RIS) has questioned the decision by Government through the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, TD, to impose an arbitrary new €500 fee on non-EEA migrants applying for Long Term Residency in Ireland. The Long Term Residency (Fees) Regulations 2009 is effective 7th September. Apart from investing in the State through payment of taxes, non-EEA migrants also pay a number of fees to Government. These include €500 annually for work permits, €100 for annual re-entry visas and €150 for GNIB Registration Cards.
Recent experience of inward migration has redefined Ireland's population profile in a much more diversified way. There are now 188 nationalities living in Ireland, more religious beliefs are visible and the population has become multilingual. It is on this premise that the Government hascalled all stakeholders in education to a timely development of a National Intercultural EducationStrategy.
Catherine Kenny writes in Metro Eireann about the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008
ISICI presents Ireland’s first guide on immigrant youth integration
The Integration and Social Inclusion Centre of Ireland (ISICI) has published a guide to address the needs of immigrant youth and their parents in accessing information on employment, education, language learning, family and inclusion.
The ‘At Home in Ireland’ guide, informed by real life experiences, aims to facilitate long term integration for immigrant youth and has been translated into three other languages: French, Arabic and Russian. It can be found in the communications section of this website and at www.integratingireland.ie
TCD and ISICI explore the future for the asylum process in Europe.
Jo Ahern CEO, ISICI and Wale Mogaji Head of Communications were speakers at a recent evening jointly convened with Dr Ronit Lentin, Director of the MPhil in Racial and Ethnic Studies, Department of Sociology, Trinity College Dublin on the future of the asylum process in Europe. The theme for the evening’s lectures focused on The Common European Asylum Process; Where to Now? Dr Rosemary Byrne, Senior Lecturer in the Law Faculty also spoke at the event.
ISICI shares thoughts on citizenship and immigrant participation at International conference.
Good citizen participation and involvement practices formed the key focus of an International conference held on 7 - 8 December 2009 in Tallinn, Estonia. Western Alliance Regional Development Officer, Jipe Kelly, represented ISICI and presented the development of the former Integrating Ireland’s 2009 website ivote.ie and local election Active Citizenship Program at a workshop entitled “Exchanging good practice for the promotion of an active citizenship in the EU”.
Conference identifies top practice in voluntary work for migrant’s empowerment
ISICI made another international representation at the Hellenic Red Cross’s European Conference in Athens, Greece which deliberated on Best Practice in Voluntary Work for Migrants’ Empowerment. ISICI’s South East Regional Development Officer, Seamus O’Leary presented a paper on the volunteer contributions of immigrants in Ireland at the conference.
Boston Irish Immigrant Centre and ISICI in exchange program
ISICI Network Coordinator, Monica Anne Brennan, has successfully completed a project visit to the Boston Irish Immigrant Centre, USA at which she gained insights into their work and explored learning exchanges with groups in the Boston area. To learn more about the centre go to their website on www.iicenter.org or contact Monica Anne on regions@integratingireland.ie
Conference discusses diversity management in Ireland
An inaugural Conference on ‘Our Languages’ on Minority Languages in Ireland was held in Dublin on 21-22 November, 2009. ISICI was part of the conference which considered Ireland’s cultural and linguistic diversity management and fresh opportunities for policy directions. ISICI Management Intern, Irina Maximova addressed the conference on the needs and difficulties of minority language children, their parents, school teachers and on access to heritage language programs in Ireland.
CEO presented with Excellence Award
CEO, ISICI, Josephine Ahern received an award for excellence at the 3rd Annual Awards and Anniversary dinner of the Bold and Beautiful International Magazine on 21st November 2009. The award was given in recognition of her commitment and work in the areas of immigrant rights and entitlements, integration and social inclusion.
OECD Review on Migrant Education - Ireland
The Organization for Economic, Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said in its latest review that Irish schools experienced a rapid increase in the inflow of immigrant students only in recent years, and the main focus of migrant education is first-generation immigrants. Currently about 10% of students in primary schools and about 8% of students in post-primary schools have immigrant backgrounds. Unlike most other OECD countries, first-generation immigrant students in Ireland, on average, achieve education outcomes similar to their Irish-born peers, possibly because the socio-economic backgrounds of these students are similar to or higher than those of their Irish-born peers.
For more on the report, visit: www.oecd.org
Justice in Ireland
Wale Mogaji , Head of Communications and Integration, ISICI was guest speaker at a seminar hosted by the Bloom Movement for Global Justice and the Africa Centre on 19th November 2009. The seminar theme was; ‘Perfect Storm: Stirring up Activism in a Time of Crisis’. Mr Mogaji’s presentation focused on the opportunities and challenges for migrants to facilitate their own voices and political participation.
Integration plan for Limerick
The Limerick City and County Integration Working Group was established in 2007. The group is made up of a number of statutory and non-statutory agencies. It is represented by Kathy O’Connor, South West Regional Development Officer, ISICI. Doras Luimni is joint chair of this group with the Jesuit Refugee Service. Over the past year and a half, the group has been concentrating on developing an Integration Plan for Limerick over the 3 year period 2010 to 2012.
The RIS in collaboration with Dr Liam Coakley has launched a Position Paper on access to education. Click here for further details.
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The Refugee Information Service has developed in the past years an expertise and reputation as a specialised training provider on issues related to immigration.
For information on our training service click here
This unique guide provides a much needed resource for young immigrants and their parents by providing user-friendly and accessible information on language learning, family, feeling connected, education, employment and being a part of a community.
The RIS launched a new report on family reunification entitled The Challenges facing Refugees, Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection and Persons granted Leave to Remain as they seek reunification with their families in Ireland on Thursday 30th July.
Family Reunification Report 2009:The challenges facing Refugees, Beneficiries of Subsidiary Protection and Persons granted Leave to Remain, as they seek reunification with their families in Ireland.
Position Paper on Acces to Educuation: The Challenges and Obstacles facing Refugees, Persons with Leave to Remain and Persons granted Subsidiary Protection as they seek post-second level education in Ireland
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