The current report provides analysis on statistics relating to migration and asylum in Ireland. The majority of the data have been supplied by Eurostat and where other sources have been used this is marked below the relevant table. Data is not available on all of the requested items. The main migration-related event of interest in 2005 was the creation of a new cross-departmental government body with responsibility for a range of immigration, asylum and visa issues which had previously been spread across a number of government departments: the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). The consultation phase for new comprehensive Immigration and Residence legislation (Immigration and Legislation Bill, 2005) was launched with the publishing of a discussion document and request for submissions in April 2005, and a new Employment Permits Bill was published and sought to offer migrant workers increased protection and introduced a new employment permit scheme described as a ‘Green Card’ for certain highly-skilled workers. New citizenship legislation came into effect in January 2005, which saw a change in conditions under which the child of foreign national parents may acquire Irish citizenship. The government’s National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) was launched in January 2005
