Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 638: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the types of visa available to non-nationals wishing to enter the State; the minimum and maximum durations for which it can be issued for each type of visa; the authorities who can issue these visas; if the holder is permitted to seek or obtain employment within the State; the restrictions in the range of persons who may be issued with these visas; the cost of the visas; the number issued in 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005 broken down by year for each type of visa listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28773/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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First not all travellers to the State require a visa. The list of states whose citizens do not require an Irish visa is contained in Schedule 1 of the Immigration Act (Visas) Order 2005. All other nationals must be in possession of a valid Irish visa each time they travel to the State.

The granting of an Irish visa is, in effect, only a form of pre-entry clearance enabling a visa-required national to travel to the State for the specific purpose stated. A visa does not grant permission to enter the State and visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry. The actual permission to enter the State is given by the immigration officer at the port of entry who will also indicate the duration of stay permitted.

Irish visas are sought for a wide variety of purposes, such as holidays, a visit, business, conference, employment, exam, interview, to join family, medical reasons, sports tournaments, study, training, etc. The period of validity of an Irish visa, i.e. the time during which it can be used to travel to the State, is generally three months, but this may be reduced or increased having regard to circumstances of particular cases.

There are two types of visa: a C visa, where the traveller is proposing to remain in the State for a maximum period of up to three months and a D visa, where the traveller is proposing to remain for extended periods over three months. The stated purpose of journey will be indicated on the visa.

Applications for visas must normally be made through the Irish embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of permanent residence or, if there is no embassy or consulate, through the applicant's reference in Ireland or direct by post to the visa office of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The question of visa fees is a matter for that Department and I understand its current fees are: single journey visa, €60; multiple journey visa, €100; and transit visa, €25.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been given delegated sanction to approve visas in a wide variety of circumstances and in fact the vast majority of visa applications are approved under this delegated sanction without reference to my Department. Applications not within the delegated sanction are referred to my Department for processing. The actual issuing of the visas, that is, the affixing of the visa sticker into the passport of the prospective traveller, is the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am informed that the number of visas issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs over recent years is as follows; 104,900 in 2002; 120,200 in 2003; 113,550 in 2004; and 104,100 to date in 2005. These visas are issued by the extensive network of Irish embassies and consulates around the world. The Department of Foreign Affairs is not in a position to provide a breakdown of the variety of visas issued.

Access to employment in the State by non-nationals comes under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. A national of a country outside the European Economic Area who wishes to come to Ireland to work requires the authorisation of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, normally a work permit. There is however a concession whereby non-national students registered as attending a course of study leading to a qualification recognised by the Department of Education and Science, a list of which courses is available on www.education.ie, can enter part-time casual employment, defined as up to 20 hours per week or full-time work during normal college vacation periods.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the criteria, restrictions and applicability of a single journey joint spouse bearer only D visa. [28775/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The granting of an Irish visa is, in effect, only a form of pre-entry clearance enabling a visa required national to travel to the State for the specific purpose stated. A visa does not grant permission to enter the State and visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry. The actual permission to enter the State is given by the immigration officer at the port of entry who will also indicate the duration of stay permitted.

The type of visa as referred to by the Deputy enables the holder to travel to the frontiers of the State and to seek permission to enter and reside in the State on the basis indicated on the visa, that is, to join his or her spouse. The term D visa indicates to the immigration authorities that the visit is not short term in nature. The endorsement "Bearer Only" indicates that the visa is valid for the passport holder only and does not cover any persons travelling with the holder.

A single journey visa is valid for one journey to the State. Should the holder subsequently wish to depart the State and return on a later date they will require a re-entry visa. A re-entry visa can be obtained prior to departing the State from the visa office of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.