The Pat Kenny Show Reports of immigration rule changes
Nov 24, 2025
Sean Defoe, Newstalk's political correspondent and the voice behind the Let Me Explain podcast, dives deep into the complexities of Irish immigration policy. He breaks down the differences between economic migration and asylum, highlighting new cabinet memos that propose significant changes such as accommodation contributions for working asylum seekers. Defoe discusses stricter citizenship rules for welfare recipients and the financial thresholds for critical skills visas. The conversation reveals the challenges legal migrants face and the ongoing impact of UK policy on Ireland's immigration landscape.
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Citizenship Rules To Become More Stringent
- The government plans to tighten citizenship rules by delaying the residency clock until refugee status is granted and extending the required residency to five years.
- They will also require applicants to be self-sufficient and ban recent recipients of social protection from qualifying.
Direct Provision Time Won't Count Toward Residency
- New rules would prevent time spent in IPAS or direct provision from counting towards residency until refugee status is granted.
- Applicants cannot have received social welfare for two years before applying and limited state assistance over five years.
Tighter Family Reunification And High Income Tests
- Family reunification for legal migrant workers will be limited to immediate dependants and subject to income thresholds.
- High income requirements for parents (around €92-93k) will effectively bar many lower-paid essential workers.