Written answers
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Visa Applications
8:00 pm
Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the steps he will take to address the delays experienced by persons applying for holiday visas from outside the Schengen area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29182/10]
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by Visa Officials in my Department that there are no delays currently in the processing of "holiday" visas. Visa applications are processed as speedily as possible having regard to the numbers on hand and the resources available to process them. Although the INIS website states that visa applications are processed in six to eight weeks, in fact most applications are processed much faster than that. In our dedicated overseas offices, all types of visit visa applications, including holiday-type visas, are processed typically in two to three weeks. Currently "holiday" visas referred to Dublin are generally being turned around within four to five weeks of receipt in Dublin. The aforementioned timeframe is often less for non-complicated applications.
As regards the Schengen area, the Schengen Convention is an agreement among some European Member States which allows for the abolition of systematic border controls between the participating countries. Ireland has not, however, applied to participate in the Schengen arrangements to the extent that they deal with the abolition of border checks. This decision has been taken to maintain the common travel area with the United Kingdom which remains an important priority for the Irish Government.
Noel O Ca
Posted on 7 Oct 2010 6:19 pm (Report this comment)
What is the Minister Ahern talking about?
There is NO CTA within these two islands that is often compared with internal Schengen. Irish people returning here from any part of the U.K. (or by air from internal Ireland) are intimidated into producing their valid up to date passports to the Garda Officer as if they were arriving from Abu Dhabi (outside the CTA, Schengen, Europe etc)
Note how no opposition TD raised her/his voice in discussion on API that slipped through yesterday....this means that Irish people will eventually be obliged to seek permission in advance -up to a week - before boarding a flight for Ireland.
When arriving from Outer Mongolia this is no problem but when arriving from Bruxelles (European Union) then, not only is it inconvenient but it conflicts with the right of freedom of movement when engaging in inter Union travel. The European Commission emphasises that the only control that can /is enforced is a simple passport check on the border...when travelling within the European Union. The U.K. has been forced to drop its API.........