James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, who first came to Ireland from the US ten years ago and, who has been in a relationship with an Irish citizen since 2001, has had an application for residency refused which was applied for since leaving college, despite being offered a job; if he has discretionary powers to grant residency on the basis of a proven long-term, de facto relationship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15951/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Immigration Division of my Department received an application from the person referred to by the Deputy on the 15th April 2008. Prior to this, the Immigration Division has no record of any application received/refused in respect of her.

There are no provisions in Irish immigration law or procedure, or indeed EU law, whereby a non-EEA national may obtain permission to reside in the State on the basis of a relationship with an Irish national, except where the person in question is the spouse or an immediate dependent family member of the Irish national in question. However, it is open to any non-national to make an application to be allowed reside in the State and the nature and duration of that person's relationship with an Irish national, as well the person's capacity to support himself or herself without recourse to public funds, would be taken into account in determining whether or not permission would be granted.