John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider offering long-term residency visas in certain cases to non-national students completing PhD and postdoctoral studies here, in line with similar measures for highly skilled persons in key areas in competitor countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37608/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The New Regime for non-EEA Students, which has been in force since January 2011, recognises the importance of foreign national PhD students in the Irish educational system and provides for a pragmatic and flexible approach to facilitate the significant undertaking of a PhD programme by the student. While the overall time limit for which non-EEA nationals are permitted to reside in the State on a student permission is seven years, students who have been accepted on a PhD or doctoral programme will be granted an extension on that period. Permission will be renewed to facilitate completion of PhD and doctoral programmes where the appropriate academic supervisor provides confirmation of satisfactory progress on the programme.

Furthermore, PhD students are exempted from the general prohibition on family reunification for non-EEA students and, once graduated, may avail of the post study pathway which permits non-EEA students to remain in the State for one year in order to secure employment on a work permit, a green card or indeed as a scientific researcher under the administrative scheme that is currently in place.