Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the situation with arrivals from Bulgaria and Romania, including the number of people who have arrived from each country; if data is being collected on the purpose and dispersal of these new arrivals; and the procedures in place to integrate these new arrivals and the services that are available to them. [13039/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to arrivals since 1 January 2007 when Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union. In terms of immigration procedures and controls, all European Union citizens coming to Ireland, including Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, are covered by the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) (No.2) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 656 of 2006). Those Regulations transposed into Irish law the European Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.

In summary, the Regulations mean that visa requirements will no longer apply to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals and they will be able to enter the State on production of their passport and/or national identity card and they may reside here for up to 3 months without conditions. That is the situation which applies to all EU citizens. After 3 months, any EU citizen in the State must be either;

in lawful employment or

self-employed; or

enrolled on a course of study or vocational training and have comprehensive sickness insurance; or,

be self-sufficient and have comprehensive sickness insurance.

The only restriction on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, in contrast with other EU citizens, is that in accordance with the Government's decision of 24 October 2006 they continue to require employment permits in order to participate in the Irish labour market unless they were already granted the right to work here for an uninterrupted period of 12 months or longer and availed of that right, or are otherwise exempt.

The Regulations do not provide for the registration of EU citizens with the immigration authorities i.e. the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service or the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Consequently, data are not available on the number of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, or other EU citizens, arriving in the State.

In terms of integration and services, it should be noted that Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are present in the State on the same basis as other EU citizens, apart from the labour market restriction. EU citizens to whom the Free Movement Regulations apply can carry on in a self-employed capacity, any business, trade or profession, have access to training and education in the State and are generally entitled to receive the same medical care and services on a like basis with Irish citizens.