Dec 11, 2008

In the Land of Sunshine

Another blog from someone who has moved to Ireland. A 30 year old lady originally from rural Ohio in the US. She also lived in Sweden and is half Greek ! Now she is living in Kilkenny in Ireland . Read about her experiences on Land of Sunshine

Sep 22, 2008

Moving to Belfast

Whitney tells us about her move to Belfast on Glimpses of Grace - another blog we found from someone who has moved to Ireland. . Some nice pictures

A Norwegian Student in Ireland

A student in Dublin who moved here from Norway this year.
The world as I see it might be a useful blog for any other people thinking of moving to Dublin to study.

Yoga and bad Coffee in Ireland

Our search for bloggers who have moved to Ireland continues - we found Jenna (Not Lana) - who likes yoga and good coffee - which is hard to get in Ireland. Her Bubblin in Dublin blog is a good read. Another American living in Ireland.

American Buddhist in Ireland

Another great blog we have discovered from "Gerald Ford" - who happens to be a Buddhist amd moved to Ireland recently. Some great posts about Buddhism and life in Ireland .

http://level8.wordpress.com/

Moving from Sweden to Ireland

Another blogger writing about their experiences on Moving to Ireland. This Journalism student has some interesting things to say about Irish life and living in Ireland. We will call back to see how they get on

"In Ireland families are big. You have many children and people gather around each other on many occasions. You keep quiet about the things you do not like because you respect that you are family. It is the same way in Iran. Families are big, in fact it is known that what would constitute a family is having a minimum of two children in Iran. You gather around each other and socialise with food, laughter, dancing and singing - the same way as in Ireland. The bands of family are very important and valued to a high standard. You respect your elders and their visdom."
Short Digital Pictures

Korean Living in Dublin

This blog from Yjellie has some thoughts and experiences on her move to Ireland.

All good so far - we hope she keeps on posting about her new life in Ireland.

Sep 11, 2008

IT Finance and Health Workers wanted

In Ireland there is a substantial skills shortage in a number of sectors despite the economic downturn according to Ernst & Young. Recent figures from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment indicate that despite this shortage the number of employment permits issued for the first eight months of 2008 is less than 50% of the number issued in 2007. Nearly 100 employers attended an Ernst & Young briefing today where experts advised the audience on a number of issues which are affecting Irish Employment including employment permits and the visitor visa process.

According to Ernst & Young while there is a significant number of employment permits issued in Ireland each year there is a substantial skills shortage in a number of sectors. Areas such as information technology, financial services and in particular healthcare are still finding it very difficult to secure appropriate staff. There is an incredible demand for high quality staff in these sectors and Ireland / the EU are unable to satisfy this demand at the moment.

Jul 26, 2008

Non EU Spouses of EU Citizens in Ireland

THOUSANDS of Non EU wives and husbands of EU citizens based in Ireland who were facing deportation are to gain residency rights here following a landmark European ruling.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) found Irish laws which required a spouse from outside of the EU to have lived in another member state before moving to Ireland were incompatible with a directive on the free movement on EU citizens.

The ruling involved four failed asylum seekers who married EU citizens while living in Ireland. The couples successfully complained that "notice of intention to deport" orders breached EU law and their rights to live and work in any EU state.

The High Court had previously ruled that the Department of Justice had the right to insist that non-EU wives or husbands of non-Irish EU citizens, must live legally in another member state before moving to Ireland.

The Governmentbacked by Germany, Britain, Italy and Denmark, defended the measure as being necessary to deal with the problems caused by so-called marriages of convenience.

But the ECJ ruled that Irish regulations designed to give effect to a mandatory EU directive aimed at removing red tape for EU citizens -- allowing them to travel and work more freely within the European Economic Area -- were incompatible with the directive.

The EU directive was designed to give greater legal protection to EU citizens and their families and restrict member countries from refusing entry or right of residence to non-EU spouses and family members.

The blanket ban, part of the Government's policy to prevent sham marriages, also affected married EU nationals, already living and working in Ireland, who were told that their spouses could not join them here.

Late last year the Government, which had been inundated with scores of High Court actions, settled many cases and allowed affected spouses to remain. But lawyers claim that they and their clients were forced to sign confidentiality clauses to avoid the creation of a legal precedent that could be used to fight other cases.

"Our Government spent vast sums of money fighting these cases when all logic dictated that they were wrong," said solicitor Kevin Brophy.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland said more than 1,500 couples will be affected by the ruling. "While the Immigrant Council of Ireland recognises legitimate concerns regarding marriages of convenience, which may have been the reasoning behind the Government's incorrect transposition of the 'Free Movement Directive', we are of the view that each application must be considered on its own merits," said ICI senior solicitor, Hilkka Becker.

A spokesperson for justice minister Dermot Ahern said the Government needed time to consider the ruling before introducing new laws to remedy the impugned Irish regulations.