Ireland removes appeal right for most short-stay visa refusals
High Court backs refusal of chef-de-partie employment visa, underscores evidentiary burden
CSO: April foreign visitor numbers up 7 per cent as business trips rebound
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Bank-holiday transport plan aims to keep Ireland moving during festival-heavy weekend
Transport for Ireland has issued a national service plan for the 29 May–1 June bank-holiday weekend, including Sunday schedules on 1 June, DART engineering works and event-related bus and tram diversions. Business travellers and inbound assignees should expect longer journey times and are advised to plan airport connections carefully.
New Stamp 4 pathway offers long-term status to Temporary Protection holders
Ireland has created a Temporary Protection Transition Scheme that will grant eligible refugees a renewable two-year Stamp 4 permission, giving unrestricted work rights and counting toward citizenship. Applications are due to open in September 2026, offering employers and 70,000 current protection beneficiaries a clear bridge beyond the March 2027 expiry of EU Temporary Protection.
Ireland ends appeals process for most short-stay visa refusals
From 1 June 2026 Ireland will abolish the right to appeal most refusals of short-stay (Type C) visas, leaving re-application as the only remedy. Government expects the change to speed processing by redirecting staff to more complex long-stay cases, but businesses should ensure first-time applications are complete, as decisions will now be effectively final.
Government expands Employment Permit occupation lists and signals 50:50 rule review
Effective immediately, 32 occupation changes make it easier for Irish employers to secure Employment Permits, with new Critical Skills roles and additional General Employment Permit eligibilities. Ministers also signalled plans to relax the 50:50 nationality ratio for health and social-care employers, suggesting further reforms ahead of Ireland’s EU Council Presidency.
Ministers hint at possible tightening of Ireland’s citizenship rules
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed on 29 May that the Government is reviewing Ireland’s comparatively liberal citizenship criteria and considering measures such as an English-language test or longer residence requirements. No decisions have been taken, but employers and migrants are advised to monitor developments and lodge applications promptly if already eligible.