Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

183. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visas granted to Chinese citizens in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the discussions he has held with his UK counterpart on UK changes to visa access for Chinese tourists and new proposals for visa bonds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41715/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the number of Irish visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2010, 2011 and 2012 was 8,066, 8,822 and 9,342, respectively. In 2013 to date (30 September) some 7,700 visas have issued.

The number of visas granted each year to Chinese nationals has increased significantly since 2010, with 15% more visas issued in 2012 than in 2010. Furthermore, in both 2012 and 2011, Chinese nationals accounted for 11% of total visa applications, the third largest number of visa applications from a single country. I can also advise the Deputy that in 2012 the approval rate for visa applications of Chinese Nationals was 96%, an increase from 93% in 2010.

The Deputy may also wish to note that China is one of the seventeen countries covered by the Visa Waiver Programme which allows certain categories of visitor to the UK, including tourists, to travel on to Ireland without the need for an Irish visa. Information provided by Tourism Ireland to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department indicates that since the introduction of the visa waiver programme, new Tour Operator Programmes alone have contributed to an additional 6,000 Chinese nationals travelling to Ireland.

In relation to the United Kingdom, there is close cooperation between the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration service of my Department and the UK Home Office and I regularly discuss with both the UK's Home Secretary and Minister for Immigration matters relating to the operation and oversight of the Common Travel Area arrangement. In that context and building on success of the Irish Visa Waiver Programme, work is continuing in partnership with the UK Home Office on the development of short-stay CTA visa arrangements which would allow tourists and business visitors to travel to the CTA, with first arrival in either jurisdiction, and thereafter to travel freely throughout the CTA. The intention is that Chinese nationals will be among the principal beneficiaries of these arrangements. I have no plans at this time to introduce any form of bond for visa applicants from any country.