Written answers

Thursday, 9 June 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Visa Applications

6:00 pm

Photo of Eoghan MurphyEoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the business visa scheme came into force; the number who have availed of this scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14966/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to the administrative scheme operated by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department known as Business Permission.

Non-EEA nationals who wish to pursue a business activity (in a capacity other than as an employed person for whom an employer would have to obtain a work permit) must first obtain Business Permission. Information outlining the requirements of the Business Permission scheme which are very specific can be obtained from the INIS website "www.inis.gov.ie" listed under Business Permission.

The Business Permission scheme has been in existence for well in excess of 10 years. From the statistics readily available, I can inform the Deputy that in the period of 2008 to 30 April 2011, some 411 applications for Business Permission were received by INIS. In the same period, 218 applications were approved, 172 refused and 80 deemed abandoned.

The Deputy may also be interested in my recent reply to Parliamentary Question No. 107 (Ref. 1443/11) of 2 June 2011 confirming that my Department is presently working on a new immigration scheme in the area of entrepreneurship and investment.

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