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.
Josephine Ahern, CEO said: “The RIS finds this development inequitable. For Government to introduce this new fee for migrant workers at this challenging time and when many people are struggling to support themselves and their families just adds to their economic burden. The fee is also highly questionable given that non-EEA migrants have been at the receiving end of a less than satisfactory service for some time and given that it currently takes more than two years to process a Long Term Residency application.”
The RIS feels strongly that Government ought to reconsider its decision on the new Regulations.