Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2014
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 and their spouse have an entitlement to long term residency Stamp 4 arising from their employment on foot of a work permit for more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the granting of Long Term Residency is subject to the applicant meeting a number of requirements including that he or she has completed five years legal residency in the State on work permit/ work authorisation/ working visa conditions and is deemed to be of good character. Additionally, all applicants must have permission to remain in the State at the time the application is submitted and be in gainful employment throughout as well as after the application process.
The person for whom details have been given and his spouse were registered in the State under Stamp 2 conditions, which expired on 31 December 2013. The holding of this type of immigration permission permits the persons concerned to reside in the State for study purposes but does not permit them to enter full-time employment, without having an employment permit.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for Long Term Residency or Citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the eligibility criteria. Full details of the eligibility criteria and residency calculators for both schemes can be found on www.inis.gov.ie.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to immigration matters may be made directly to INIS 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.
