Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the basis on which a citizen of Belarus who has resided in Ireland since 2003, whose last work permit expired on 6 June 2007 and who married an Irish citizen on 15 June 2007 can obtain a residency permit to continue living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18923/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question can make an application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department for residence in the State on the basis of marriage to an Irish national. However, it should be noted that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic right of residence in the State. Applications of this kind, in fairness to all other such applications, are dealt with in strict chronological order and currently take approximately twelve months to process.

Should the person in question wish to continue employment in the State while an application for residence on the sole basis of marriage to an Irish national is being processed, they should be advised to renew their work permit.