Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 506: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is possible for a non-EU national to marry an Irish national here while in the country on a holiday visa of three months duration; and if not, if he will offer the relevant advice as the best course of action to persons (details supplied). [14894/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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While there is no specific arrangement which would facilitate a visa-required person to enter the state for the purpose of marriage, nor any specific provision in immigration law which would prevent a non-EU national marrying an Irish citizen while present in the State, every visa application is examined on its individual merits. Visa applicants are expected to provide comprehensive and correct information on the purpose of their journey to Ireland and to abide by the conditions of their visa when in the State. It is a general policy that a short-stay visa is for a maximum of 90 days, that it cannot be converted into a longer term permission to remain in the State and that the visa holder should leave the State on or before the date of expiry of their visa.

Comprehensive information on making a visa application is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at www.inis.gov.ie.

Procedures to be followed in advance of marriage are a matter for the Registrar of Civil Marriages in the district in which the intended marriage is to take place, or for the authorities of the religious denomination involved in the case of a marriage by way of a religious ceremony.