Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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256. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 665 of 21 June 2022, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish embassies abroad are informing persons seeking to obtain a re-entry visa while their application for a renewal of their Irish residence permit card is being processed to contact her Department for a re-entry visa, contrary to her response that a person can make a visa application at their local Irish embassy to allow them to return to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34997/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Anyone who wishes to travel from the State may do so regardless of whether their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card is in date or has expired.

Non visa-required nationals trying to re-enter the State may rely on their in-date IRP card. If their IRP card has expired they will need to provide proof of their permission to reside in the State, such as a letter from my Department, to an immigration officer on their arrival in the State.

Visa-required nationals trying to re-enter the State may rely on their in-date IRP card. If their IRP card has expired, they will require an entry visa to return to the State. They can apply to their local Visa Office or Embassy for the relevant entry visa to allow them to travel back to Ireland.

The re-entry visa programme for minors under the age of 16 years currently residing in Ireland has also been suspended until further notice. Children under the age of 16 who are currently residing in the State and who wish to re-enter the State, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian who holds an in date permission to reside in the State. The adult accompanying the child must also provide appropriate documentation to prove they are the legal parent or guardian of the child in question.

Suitable documents to prove the relationship between the parent or guardian and the child are:

- A birth or adoption certificate, or guardianship papers showing your relationship with the child

- A marriage/divorce certificate if you are the child’s parent but have a different surname

- A death certificate in the case of a deceased parent

Further information about travelling with children is available online at:

www.irishimmigration.ie/at-the-border/travelling-with-children.

Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individual to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland ready for presentation to an immigration officer.