Ms Judy McAvoy:

For us, the Irish citizen will always have the right to residence. If his or her partner has been added to the application, the partner is not assessed on HRC, it is only the main applicant who is assessed. The partner's circumstances will be taken into account but the main applicant is the only person who must satisfy the HRC. It can impact on it but usually we advise the Irish citizen with the history of living in Ireland to apply, rather than somebody whose permission in Ireland might not be stable at present.