Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the protracted nature of the process for determining eligibility for a visitor visa if she will give consideration to a process of fast tracking second and subsequent visa applications for elderly relatives of persons legally resident here who have previously been approved for visas and who have complied with the terms of those visas; the most appropriate visa type that a person (details provided) should apply for in view of the fact that they were previously approved and complied with a holiday visa entry requirement and who wish to make a number of visits here to visit their children and grandchildren over the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40273/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is the policy to issue Multiple Journey visas to persons who have an established compliant travel history in the recent past. In practice, for a short-stay visit visa, if a visitor has been granted two previous Irish visas and has observed the conditions of those visas (e.g. they did not overstay or work illegally) they may apply for a Multiple Journey visa. The purpose of a Multiple Journey visa is to allow a person to travel to Ireland on a number occasions, during the dates shown on the visa, for short trips only.

The majority of short-stay visit visa applications are processed with five working days of receipt of the required documentation. Some applications may take longer to assess depending on the particular circumstances of the case. The issuance of a visa, including whether to grant a Multiple Journey visa, is at the discretion of the Visa Officer.

In addition to the general practice above, there are certain circumstances where a multiple entry visa may be issued to applicants with no previous travel history to Ireland. For example, a person can apply for a Multiple Journey visa if:

- they need to travel regularly to Ireland on short visits for business meetings.

- while in Ireland on business they need to travel to another country, returning to Ireland for further meetings, for onward travel.

- they are travelling to and from another country, via Ireland.

In relation to the specific individuals referred to by the Deputy, I have been advised by INIS that one of the relatives of the person legally resident in Ireland made one previous visit to Ireland in 2012 and there is no record of a visa application having been made or a visa granted in respect of the other named relative.