Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which immigration determinations are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24601/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department processes around 250,000 applications each year ranging across a wide range of avenues for immigration. The determination of certain types of immigration permissions are set down in national law, such as, the visa regime or applications for naturalisation under the Citizenship Acts, or linked to employment permits granted by my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The Immigration Acts set out, as well, the basis on which persons may be refused leave to land in State, while other aspects of the immigration regime are underpinned by EU law, such as, those seeking to exercise EU Free Movement Rights. Cognisance in decision making is also had to Irish and International jurisprudence.

Applications for International Protection and the related permission to be in the State are governed by the International Protection Act, 2015 which gives effect to International Protection law in relation to asylum and to EU laws in relation to Subsidiary Protection.

Other immigration determinations arise through the application of programmes operated by my Department, for example the various opportunities that exist to encourage non-EEA nationals to study in Ireland. Finally, the Deputy may wish to refer to the INIS website which contains significant detail in relation to the various opportunities afforded non-nationals to enter and remain in the State.