Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Vaughn a star
MetroLife talks to ‘Mr Sunshine’ »p13
Destination Ireland: 166,000 ask to stay
Picture: PA
by joanne ahern
A wave of visitors A daredevil surfer rides a wave yesterday at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, as scores of hardy souls flocked to the west coast from near and far to take advantage of what is thought to be the last of the stormy weather. Big wave chasers from California and Hawaii rushed to the north-western tip of the country to risk their lives riding the ‘black swell’ brought in by the storm dubbed Hercules.
Mullaghmore Head is reckoned to be the best spot in Europe for pro surfers. Nick Rees from Surfing GB, a spectator at the action yesterday, said: ‘I have seen about 20 surfers from all over go in, Americans, Australians. You just don’t get waves this big very often so people are making the most of it. This is not a time for amateurs to get in the water.’ PAGEs 4-5
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Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it
ABOUT 166,000 new applications for visas, residency, citizenship and protection were submitted in Ireland during 2013. Almost 2,250 men and women were deported or removed from the country, including 1,890 who were refused entry at airports or ports, Justice Department figures show. The details of more than 75,000 immigrants in Ireland were also shared with officials in the UK last year under a Common Travel Area agreement. Some 12 per cent of the Irish population – 544,000 – are listed as foreigners, with the majority from EU countries. A review for 2013 showed 4,370 asylumseekers were living in direct provision centres, down 30 per cent from 2010. About 95,000 visa applications were made, up 14 per cent since 2011, with an approval rate of 91 per cent. Most applicants were from India (16 per cent), Russia (15 per cent) and China (11 per cent). Almost 18,000 people were granted Irish citizenship last year. Justice Minister Alan Shatter said 68,000 decisions have been made on naturalisation applications since he took office. He said ‘huge improvements have been made’, with most visa applications processed in days and asylum bids completed ‘within months’. While the Immigrant Council of Ireland acknowledged the progress made in 2013, its CEO Denise Charlton called on the Government to focus on vulnerable groups. She claimed immigrants are left trapped in violent relationships because of fears of being deported and added Ireland has been criticised for failing to provide secure accommodation for trafficking victims, while stateless people are often left living in limbo.