Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
565. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of non-EU citizens granted visas due to their relationship with an EU citizen - spouse, civil partner or partner - during the years 2000 to 2013 and to date in 2014; and the category of visas granted. [32121/14]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to visas granted for the purpose of permanent or long-term immigration into the State on the basis of a relationship with an EU citizen exercising their right of free movement within the State.
In the years 2010 to 2013, over 1,200 visas were granted to visa-required nationals to join a spouse or partner who was a national of an EU state other than Ireland. Approximately 330 such visas were granted during the first half of 2014. The figures for the previous years requested by the Deputy are not available. I might add that these figures do not represent the overall number of visa-required nationals coming to reside in Ireland as the spouse/partner of a national of another EU State, as in a number of cases the person will have entered the State initially on the basis of a different stated purpose e.g. study purposes, etc..
