Information
Convention refugees
Convention refugees in Ireland have:
- The right to seek and enter employment in the Irish State;
- The right to carry on any business, trade or profession in the Irish
State;
- The right to access education and training in the like manner and to the
like extent in all respects as an Irish citizen;
- The right to receive the same medical care and services and the same
social welfare benefits, including housing, as an Irish citizen;
- The right to reside in the Irish State;
- The same rights of travel in, or to or from the Irish State as those to
which Irish citizens are entitled [note: this is on the basis that the
Minister for Justice and Equality issues a travel document];
- The same freedom to practice their religion and the same freedom as
regards religious education of their children as an Irish citizen;
- The right to the same access to the courts as an Irish citizen;
- The same right to form and be a member of associations and trade
unions as an Irish citizen;
- The right to acquire, hold, dispose or otherwise deal with real or
personal property or an interest in such property in the same way and
subject to the same obligations and limitations as an Irish citizen.
- The right to apply to the Minister for Justice and Equality for
permission for a member of their
family or civil partner to enter and reside in the Irish State.
Programme refugees
A Programme refugee will, for the period he/she is entitled to remain in the
Irish state, have the same entitlement to the rights and privileges given to
Convention refugees, under Section
3 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended.
People given leave to remain in Ireland
While it is not set out in legislation, people given leave to remain in the State are normally
conferred with many of the same rights and privileges as those conferred on
Convention refugees, under section 3 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended.
They do not have the right to family reunification but anyone who
is entitled to reside and remain in the State may apply to the Minister to
permit family members or to join them. The Minister for Justice and Equality
can grant or refuse permission on a discretionary basis.
