Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in 2009 in implementing the fast track visa arrangements for key researchers and highly skilled staff initiative announced in the Building Ireland's Smart Economy: A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal report in December 2008. [43137/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The policy which is in place to facilitate the entry and residence of researchers and how these persons and other highly skilled workers will be eligible to seek long-term residence in the State was addressed in my reply to PQ number 256 of 17 November 2009.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department is in weekly and often daily contact with the Irish Universities Association to facilitate the smooth operation of the Researchers Scheme. In 2009 to date some 321 new hosting agreements have been approved. The immigration authorities have also ensured that researchers and other highly skilled workers are specially facilitated in terms of residence permission and family reunification where relevant.