Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the five year strategy 'Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy', which was launched by the Taoiseach in September this year, my Department has undertaken to establish a mechanism to ensure that the visa regime here supports the priorities set out in the Strategy. This new mechanism will be designed to ensure that entrepreneurial, business and tourist travellers to Ireland who can be identified as such, are specifically facilitated, and that businesses promoting trade, tourism and investment are not placed at a competitive disadvantage. My Department has written to all relevant Government Departments inviting them to nominate high level officials to sit on a Consultative Group on Visa Issues to deliver on this commitment. In addition the relevant State Agencies will also be involved.

As with all visas 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 individual merits and I believe that, in most cases, my Department achieves this balance. Visa approval rates for the countries mentioned by the Deputy bear this out.

Approval rates for visa applications of all types processed through the Irish overseas Visa Offices in India and China in 2009 were:

New Dehli (serving India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) - 90%

Beijing (serving China, Cambodia, Mongolia) - 86%

Currently, straightforward 'visit' visa applications are being decided upon within 10 working days by the Visa Office, Beijing. The decision time frame is even shorter where applications are lodged via a Chinese government approved tourist agent, such applications being decided upon within 1 - 3 working days. A decision time frame of 1 - 5 working days applies to 'visit' visa applications considered by the Visa Office, New Delhi. Whilst I am satisfied that Ireland compares favourably with international competitors regarding processing times and approval rates for Visas from China and India, my Department continually examines ways in which the visa process can further facilitate the promotion of tourism to the State from these markets, in conformity with the needs of an effective immigration regime.