Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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339. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a series of matters (details supplied) relating to an Argentinian person staying here longer than 90 days will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37797/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As set out in the visa section of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website, Argentinian nationals do not require a visa to enter Ireland as a tourist for up to 90 days. The 90 day tourist visa waiver starts from the date of entry to the State of the Argentinian national, regardless of residence or visa permissions held in other countries. While in the State for tourism purposes, third country nationals (i.e. persons who are not nationals of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland) do not have permission to work, including employment as a nanny or au pair.

A Working Holiday Authorisation is in place between Ireland and Argentina. This scheme is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If all of the criteria is met, Argentinian nationals can work in Ireland for up to one year. Applications for the Working Holiday Authorisation cannot be made from within the Irish State. Further details on this scheme, including application opening times and deadlines, can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) governs the list of third level and English language-courses that third country nationals can receive an immigration permission for. The length and content of English language courses vary according to individual providers. Third country nationals undertaking an English language course on the ILEP can reside in Ireland for a maximum of two years, and can work for twenty hours during term time, and full time during designated holiday periods. Further details on the student permission can be found on the INIS website.

In exceptional circumstances, persons in the State for 90 days for the purposes of tourism can have their permission extended on a case-by-case basis. Extension beyond the 90 day tourist permission is given in exceptional humanitarian circumstances (e.g. serious illness). Any third country national residing in Ireland for longer than 90 days is legally obliged to register with their local immigration authority (INIS in Dublin, GNIB outside of Dublin), regardless of why they are in the State.

I would refer the Deputy to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website, where detailed information on the various immigration permissions offered by the State is available. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.