Billy Timmins
Ceist:649 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding people from Ecuador who are visiting Ireland; the reason they need a visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25875/01]
Written Answers. - Visa Applications.
Nationals of Ecuador were removed from the list of nationalities exempted from the Irish visa requirement with effect from 30 August 1997. This decision was taken following the imposition of a visa requirement on nationals of Ecuador by the UK on 1 August 1997. My understanding is that the UK had experienced a significant increase in the number of Ecuadorian nationals abusing the absence of a visa requirement in order to migrate illegally to the UK. In the light of the foregoing, it was considered prudent for Ireland also to introduce a visa requirement for the purposes of national immigration controls as well as to prevent persons from abusing the common travel area between Ireland and the UK in order to circumvent the UK visa requirement.