[Elite] Let's Talk Immigration

Day 3,055, 11:49 • Published in Ireland Ireland • by Elite C

Hey Ireland.

The other day I put an Immigration Bill to the new Congress. I think our current immigration structure needs revising and my bill offered a possible solution to that. Unfortunately it was narrowly defeated in Congress, by a single vote no less.

Thus our current immigration system remains, or so one would think. The fact is for the last few months there has been no Immigration committee elected by Congress as per the Constitution. So the question arises, who has been vetting and accepting applicants? Someone had to be doing it so as in the month of March we had 2 applications accepted. Now due to Congress confidentiality I cannot disclose any other information, which is fine as we need Congress to be able to speak in confidence some of the time. The point still holds though that someone had been vetting and accepting applications without a legitimately approved Immigration Committee.

We are now close to having an Immigration committee approved, but I am still of the belief that we need to change the system. At present the Constitution allows for a 3 member committee vetting and adjudicating on applicants. If an applicant is rejected there is no where for an appeals process. I am in favour of a 1 person Minister of Immigration to vet and adjudicate on applicants. If an applicant is refused a procedure would be set-up so it could be appealed to/by Congress.

See below for my full Bill.

This bill will revise the current Immigration system. It allows for former citizens to return and opens the borders to a limited number of foreign players. We need to grow our population and this Bill will start that process.

1. The Immigration Committee will be discontinued.
2. The President must appoint one Irish citizen as Minister of Immigration.
3. The Minister of Immigration will be solely responsible for checking that each applicant is not a threat and will grant citizenship if they deem them safe.
4. All former Irish citizens are granted citizenship subject to a reduced check by the Minister of Immigration.
5. A reduced check will simply examine the activity of an applicant during their time in Ireland.
6. At least 60% of the total number of citizenship requests available each month are to be reserved for returning Irish.
7. Any foreign born, not formerly Irish, citizen can request citizenship for eIreland.
8. A maximum of 6 foreign born, not formerly Irish citizens from any one country, can receive citizenship each month, subject to the availability of citizenships.
9. The Minister of Immigration will run recruitment drives in various countries around the eWorld.
10. In these country’s an article will be published calling on citizens to immigrate to Ireland.
11. The price of publishing will be supplemented by the government.
12. If an applicant is rejected, the Minister must inform Congress as to why.
13. A rejection can be appealed with the support of 5 Congress members.
14. If appealed Congress will vote on whether to grant citizenship to the applicant initially rejected with a simple majority required to grant citizenship.
15. This Bill [Act] overrides the relevant section(s) of the Constitution

This Bill when enacted will last for 60 days. Once enacted it can only be repealed or amended by 67% of Congress approval.

While it looks like the government and Congress will now put the Immigration issue to bed, I feel its important that this issue is further highlighted as we need to achieve change to this system.


All the Best,
Elite C