Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy changes, specific to the registration requirement for non-national spouses of Irish citizens, that have taken place since he provided this Deputy with a response to Question No. 463 of 17 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24475/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Prior to 13 February a non-EEA national woman who was married to an Irish citizen was exempt from the requirement to register. A non-EEA national man who was married to an Irish citizen was not exempt from that requirement.

The Immigration Act 2004 came into operation on 13 February. Section 9 re-enacted the prior existing provisions on registration with certain amendments. One of those amendments was to remove the exemption from female non-EEA national spouses of Irish citizens, thus equalising the position of both male and female spouses of Irish citizens. There has been no policy change specific to the registration requirement for non-national spouses of Irish citizens since then.