Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
463 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider exempting a non-national spouse of an Irish citizen from the requirement to register annually at the Garda National Immigration Bureau; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4979/04]
View answerIt was never the case that all non-national spouses of Irish nationals were required to register on an annual basis. Rather it was the case that the registration renewal was timed to coincide with the renewal of permission to remain in the State. It follows, therefore, that if a person was given a stamp on his or her passport granting five years' permission to remain, then he or she was required to register again only on expiry of that period, unless there had been a change in his or her personal circumstances. Section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004 removes the registration exemption for female spouses.
