Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1097: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the application to remain here for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if efforts can be made to process this application as soon as possible; if there is temporary permission available to them to allow them to travel outside and then return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1053/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application for permission to remain in the State based on marriage to an Irish national was received from the person concerned in April 2005. Applications of this type, in fairness to all other such applicants, are dealt with in chronological order and currently take approximately 16 to 18 months to process. It should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of residence in the State.

A person who is awaiting a decision on a residency application based on marriage to an Irish national is free to leave the State at any time. A visa-required national must be in possession of a valid Irish visa to allow the person concerned travel to the State. As the person in question is a visa-required national, she would require a re-entry visa to return to the State. It is not the normal practice of my Department to assist persons who do not have residency in the State with a re-entry visa prior to travelling except in certain emergency circumstances. Applications of this nature are considered on a case by case basis by the immigration division of my Department.