Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 918: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 20 November 2007, if it is possible for a non-visa required national to obtain a D visa or its equivalent prior to their entry to the State as the spouse of an Irish citizen in order that they can avail of the same one-year permission to reside in the State that would be given to a visa-required national in the same circumstances. [34210/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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A visa cannot be issued to a non-visa required national. The granting of an Irish visa is 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, as are non-visa required nationals. The actual permission to enter the State is given by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry who has discretion whether to grant entry and who can also indicate the duration of stay permitted.