NCP Welcomes Minister Alan Shatter's Policy Shift on Families, Irish Independent 24 March 2011

24 Mar 2011

IRISH INDEPENDENT MARCH 24 2011

LETTERS PAGE

THE major shift in government policy following Justice Minister Alan Shatter's case review of legislation governing non-Irish parents of Irish citizens heralds a new departure in how the Department of Justice marries both its equality and justice remit.

New Communities welcomes the statement from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence on the implication of the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice in the now infamous case of Ruiz Zambrano. In choosing to review all decisions pending in court, Mr Shatter has indicated he does not want to tie up the courts unnecessarily nor to keep eligible families waiting longer than necessary.

This is a marked departure from the practice of the past administration. Mr Shatter, in exercising such a decision, illustrates that the new remit of his department and its agencies can effectively exercise decisions that encompass both justice and equality.
ISSAH HUSEINI
CEO, NEW COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP