Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to honour the commitment made to a group (details supplied) by providing an exception to the ruling or by enabling lay volunteers to reapply after the three-year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27212/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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In my reply to the Deputy's earlier question on 14 September 2011 (Question No. 613) I summarised how the administrative arrangements for this category of migration operate. Those administrative arrangements are set out on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website, www.inis.gov.ie. The rules are quite generous. For example, my Department understands from a perusal of the UK website of the organisation referred to in the Deputy's question that in the UK non-EEA volunteers fall under the category of "charity workers" and can stay for only a maximum period of 12 months. As I pointed out in my previous reply the three year rule applies only to those volunteers who entered the State on or after 1 January 2011. Volunteers already lawfully in the State up to 31 December 2010 may have their immigration permission renewed annually subject to certain conditions. I have no plans to make an exception to the general rules applicable to lay volunteers.