Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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227. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is considering or working on introducing any similar approach for dependant spouses of PhDs as has been introduced for stamp 1 general work permit employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24501/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the policy governing family reunification applications for non-EEA family members, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review.

On 15 May, I announced the first outcome of this review process. On foot of this, the spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee Irish Employment Permit holders, who have applied for, and have been granted family reunification, in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will now be registered on a Stamp 1G immigration permission, rather than a Stamp 3. This will allow the holder, who would currently have permission to live in the country but not to work, to take up employment without the need to obtain a separate employment permit of their own.

This change does not apply to spouses and de-facto partners who are residing in the State on other permissions such as visitors or for study, or Stamp 3 holders who have been issued Stamp 3 permission for other reasons.

The Review is also examining a much wider range of complex matters relating to a family reunification, including the arrangements for other family members who are currently granted Stamp 3 permission. It is intended to conclude the review as soon as possible.

In June 2023 the then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, published the first report of the Independent National Review of State Supports for PhD Researchers. That Review includes considerations of a range of issues relating to PhD students in Ireland. The forthcoming final report of that independent review exercise, which is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, will inform my Department's ongoing review of the Non-EEA Family Re-unification Policy.