Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Feb 2003

Vol. 560 No. 5

Written Answers. - Residency Permits.

John Cregan

Question:

122 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the situation generally and in relation to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who is in the country over 20 years, in permanent semi-State employment but still has on-going difficulties with their status here; if matters can be streamlined and this person's status regularised; if this person's work permit can be processed; and if this person's passport stamp can be regularised or some temporary solution found which will allow this person to re-enter the country in four weeks' time after returning from holiday abroad. [3041/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The person concerned had his position in the State regularised in August 2000, and has had his permission to remain extended regularly since that date. I understand that a work permit has recently been issued in respect of him, and he should now report to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 to have his permission to remain extended up to the expiry date of his work permit. As he requires a visa to re-enter the State he should apply to the visa office, Department of Foreign Affairs, for the appropriate re-entry visa. The visa office is located in the same building as the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

123 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of citizens of countries (details supplied) currently residing here. [3057/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The numbers set out in the following table are in respect of persons who are legally resident in the State and who registered with the Garda in 2002.

Country	Number of Persons
China	11,436
Philippines	5,463
India	3,344
Pakistan	2,819
Malaysia	2,284
Thailand	493

These figures exclude persons who have been in the State for less than three months, female spouses of Irish nationals and persons under 16 years of age. It also excludes persons who are in the asylum process or who have failed the asylum process and who have not been given residency in the State on any other basis.

The numbers of persons from each of the countries in question who applied for asylum in 2002 are as set out in the following table.

Country	Number of Persons
China	85
India	41
Pakistan	120
Philippines	*
Malaysia	*
Thailand	0

* For confidentiality reasons, arising from section 19 of the Refugee Act, 1996, it is not the normal practice to provide detailed numbers where less than 10 applications are received from particular countries to ensure that applicants are not identified.