Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visas granted in 2016 to citizens of Syria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan; the number of persons from each of these countries that were refused leave to land; the number that returned to the country of origin or another third country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5882/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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140. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Libyans, Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Yemenis, Sudanese and Somalis that have been issued with visas to Ireland in the past two years. [6011/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 140 together.

The number of visas approved for 2015 to 2016 is set out in the table:

I am also advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the number of persons refused leave to land in 2016 at approved ports of entry to the State from the nationalities referred to by the Deputy were as follows:- Iran 46; Iraq 26; Libya 10; Somalia 53; Sudan 47; Syria 37; and Yemen 7. In respect of the nationalities referred to by the Deputies, a total of 53 sought asylum and were admitted to the State to make a protection application. Information on numbers refused permission to enter the State may be subject to revision over time where individual cases are examined further and the status of some cases may change.

In general, a person may be refused leave to land on one, or more, of the grounds set out in Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 (as amended). Every person refused leave to land in the State is served with a notice in which the reason, or reasons, for refusing an application for permission to enter the State is set out.

I would advise the Deputy that persons refused leave to land and who are subsequently removed from the State are returned to their point of embarkation, which in most cases is within the EU. I would point out in relation to the countries concerned that no commercial direct flights to Ireland are available from these countries.