Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013
470. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide figures on the number of non-nationals who have come to Ireland since 2008 and have remained here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2271/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004 places an obligation on non-Irish nationals, subject to the following exemptions listed, who have entered the State to present at their local registration office for the purpose of being placed on a register of non-nationals who have permission to reside in the State. It is important to note that EEA nationals, of which many thousands reside in the State, are not required to register.
Based on the figures available from the register of non-nationals, the number of non-EEA nationals granted permission to reside in the State for the first time in the period 2008 to 2012, inclusive, was 130,128. For the purpose of context, the Deputy may wish to note that Census 2011 showed that overall Ireland's non-Irish national population accounts for 12% of the national population or some 544,000 people, the majority being from EU countries.
The categories of non-Irish nationals exempted by law from the requirement to register under section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004 include the following:
(a) a non-national under the age of 16 years;
(b) a non-national who was born in Ireland;
(c) a non-national not resident in the State who has been in the State for a period of not more than 3 months since the date of his or her last arrival in the State:
(d) a non-national seaman not resident in the State whose ship remains at a port in the State and who does not land in the State for discharge.
Furthermore, nationals of European Economic Area States who are the subject of the freedom of movement legislation are not required to register.
