Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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565. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of non-EU citizens granted visas due to their relationship with an EU citizen - spouse, civil partner or partner during the years 2000 to 2013 and to date in 2014; and the category of visas granted. [32121/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to visas granted for the purpose of permanent or long-term immigration into the State on the basis of a relationship with an EU citizen exercising their right of free movement within the State.

In the years 2010 to 2013, over 1,200 visas were granted to visa-required nationals to join a spouse or partner who was a national of an EU state other than Ireland. Approximately 330 such visas were granted during the first half of 2014. The figures for the previous years requested by the Deputy are not available. I might add that these figures do not represent the overall number of visa-required nationals coming to reside in Ireland as the spouse/partner of a national of another EU State, as in a number of cases the person will have entered the State initially on the basis of a different stated purpose e.g. study purposes, etc..

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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566. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will intervene in the case of a pregnant partner of an Irish citizen (details supplied) to allow the person entry to the State due to pressing family circumstances [32132/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Join-Partner visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 16 June 2014. However, as the application did not satisfy the eligibility criteria for a Join-Partner visa, the Visa Officer refused the visa application on 30 June 2014.

The decision to refuse the visa was appealed on 8 July 2014. The appeal is currently being considered and a decision is expected to issue shortly. The person concerned will be informed of the decision in writing.

Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.