Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which an Irish citizen who is in receipt of an invalidity pension can apply for a visa for a spouse from the Philippines in cases in which the marriage took place abroad and they have never resided here. [18093/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a visa required national wishing to come to Ireland to reside with their Irish spouse may apply do so under a number of different options.

The INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie) contains comprehensive guidelines to assist the applicant with the application process in respect of different types of visa applications. It should, however, be noted that the information contained on the website is intended to provide guidance only and does not limit the discretion of the Visa Officer in dealing with individual applications. The onus rests at all times with the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that any visa sought should be granted.  In that respect, the applicant should provide such documentary evidence as is available to him or her to support the application.

I am further advised that  being in receipt of invalidity pension does not preclude a person from being an eligible sponsor.  Financial capacity is just one of the considerations when making a determination on a family reunification application. This consideration includes the joint capacity of both the sponsor and the applicant to support the applicant without undue recourse to public funds or resources. As with any visa application, all such applications are considered on their own merits having regard to the information provided and individual circumstances involved.

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 INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).