Ireland govt tightens immigration rules to slow population rise

Ireland introduced measures to tighten its immigration rules on Wednesday that the justice minister said were aimed at slowing a “worryingly” high rate of population growth.

- Reuters

Dublin has been reforming its procedures following a sharp rise in immigration. The new measures included obliging asylum seekers who are employed to contribute to state accommodation costs and a toughening of criteria around family reunifications and citizenship applications for refugees.

Net migration to Ireland has almost doubled since 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels to an average of 72,000 a year.