Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

548. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that the visa application process should be more streamlined thus making Ireland more accessible for non-EU nationals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33064/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department is always seeking ways in which the visa system can be developed to facilitate legitimate travel to the State while, at the same time, maintaining reasonable immigration controls. An example of this was the introduction by the Government in July 2011 of the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme. This Programme allows nationals of eighteen visa-required countries who are in possession of a UK visa to travel on to Ireland without the need for an Irish visa as well. This initiative has led to an increase in visits from those countries of 68% between 2010, the last full year before its introduction, and 2013.

Building on the success of that Programme, my Department and I are continuing to work with the UK Home Office on the introduction of the British Irish Visa Scheme.

The overall grant rate for Irish visa applications is 91% which compares very favourably worldwide. The number of visa applications to Ireland has steadily grown over the last four years and is on course to reach 100,000 for the first time this year. For example, applications in our Abu Dhabi Visa Office (which covers the entire Gulf Region) have increased by 139% since 2011. The equivalent figures for our New Delhi and Beijing Visa Offices are 16% and 19% respectively, despite the impact of the Visa Waiver Programme, and the fact that there are no direct flights from either country to Ireland.

In terms of processing times, the average of 9 days for the processing of applications from date of payment of the fee in our overseas visa offices (excluding our Abuja office which deals with a higher proportion of long-stay visa applications which are more complex) also compares favourably with competitor countries. I should also add that in many instances, applications are processed within 2/3 days.

I am satisfied that all of these developments and indicators show that Ireland is readily accessible for legitimate tourism and business visitors and that ease of travel to, and movement around, the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK will improve dramatically in the near future.