Written answers

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Visa Applications

9:00 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he is taking to promote bus tours of Ireland for Asian tourists relative to the visa issues; and if a workable solution can be found to issue visas faster and accommodate tour operators. [7787/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The promotion of tourism in Ireland is a matter for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and associated agencies. However, I am aware of recent media coverage in relation to the matter of visas for tourists. As with all visa regimes in all countries worldwide, the central concern is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime, while at the same time not placing unnecessary or unreasonable obstacles in the way of those who intend travelling for legitimate purposes and who are likely to abide by the terms of their visa. Each visa application is decided on its own merits and I believe that, in most cases, my Department achieves this balance. Visa approval rates for some of the countries mentioned in recently media reports bear this out. Approval rates for visas applications of all types processed through some Irish overseas Visa Offices in 2009 were: New Delhi (serving India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) - 90% Beijing (serving China, Cambodia, Mongolia) - 86% London (serving all visa required nationals based in the UK) - 98%

As always, my officials are willing to meet stakeholders in the tourism sector to discuss areas of interest and concern.

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