Careless hospitality: Family reunification in Ireland involving children and young people of international protection background

Abstract

This article examines policy and provision in relation to family reunification for persons with international protection status in Ireland through the lens of hospitality. The particular focus is on reunification involving children and young people, including former unaccompanied minors. Drawing on interviews and focus groups with sponsors, reunited family members and service providers, the article identifies various policy gaps and deficiencies which create immense difficulties for children/young people and their families in the period after reunification. There is found to be a heavy burden of responsibility for sponsors, particularly young sponsors and a significant risk of housing precarity and homelessness for family members admitted to Ireland to join them. It is argued that while the right to reunification is protected under Irish law, the hospitality extended to those admitted under reunification mechanisms is in practice limited and characterised by carelessness in relation to experiences and outcomes.