Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the assistance which will be offered to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if he is considering any proposals to allow for short-term visas for young non-EU nationals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22121/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Mexican nationals are not subject to a visa requirement for the purposes of travel to this jurisdiction. However such persons require permission to remain from an immigration officer at a port or airport. Such permission is normally forthcoming in the case of a Mexican national who wishes to make a short term visit to the State provided the person has the resources to maintain him/herself fully for the duration of that visit.

On the basis of the information supplied by the Deputy it would appear that the woman to whom he refers has a different problem. The person does not wish to visit the State — she wants permission to reside in the State. However she is not able to maintain herself fully without recourse to employment and cannot secure employment unless an employer is in a position to acquire an employment permit from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on her behalf.

It is open to her to seek entry for employment purposes under the work permit scheme or under the working visa-work authorisation scheme.

This case raises a wider and complex issue regarding the circumstances in which persons should be allowed to come and reside here. While the case raised by the Deputy certainly comes within the ambit of that issue, I am sure that he would agree that it is dangerous to contemplate policy change on the basis of one individual type of case.

However my recently published discussion document, Immigration and Residence in Ireland — Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill, contains a comprehensive analysis of such issues as admission for the purposes of work, admission for the purposes of family reunification and the issue of long-term residency status. It situates these contemporary challenges for Irish society in an analysis of the current Irish system, international practice and proposals for change. The document is intended to stimulate public debate and inform contributions to the planned Immigration and Residence Bill.