The statistics requested by the Deputy are not maintained by the Immigration Service of my Department in this manner.
These permissions are classified on the Immigration Service databases as Stamp 4 immigration permissions. There is no way of identifying those specifically granted a Stamp 4 by Ministerial discretion, under exceptional measure, by exceptional circumstance, and on the basis of an Irish born/citizen child.
The retrieval of this data would require a case-by-case examination of all applications received during the timeframe specified and would represent a significant diversion of resources from day to day processing.
A Stamp 4 immigration permission provides that the holder can work without a permit and set up a trade or business in the State. Examples of when a person may be granted a Stamp 4 immigration permission include:
- To join or reside with their Irish spouse, civil partner or de-facto partner
- As a convention or programme refugee, or based on subsidiary protection
- To join a family member who is a recognised refugee or has been granted subsidiary protection
- To remain with their child who is an Irish citizen
- Under the Investor and Entrepreneur Programme
- For Long Term Residence.
A person may also be granted a Stamp 4 immigration permission after they have had permission to work in Ireland:
- With a valid Critical Skills Employment Permit for 2 years
- With a valid employment permit for 5 years
- As a researcher (with a valid Hosting Agreement) for 2 years.
