@ Allenboo,
Have a read through the following link - page 39 onwards.
It deals with family reunification of non EU citizens who are family members of Irish citizens as well as the Non EU citizens who are family members of Non EU citizens with permission to reside in Ireland.
It should give you an idea on how the Irish assess dependency.
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Family%2 ... cument.pdf
As well as the following link, "Processing of Applications for Visas by Persons applying as Family Members of
EU Citizens exercising or planning to exercise Free Movement Rights under Directive 2004/38/EC" especially point 4.3 and point 4.4
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Processi ... ective.pdf
And if you are an EU citizen exercising treaty rights, they can't treat you less favourably than they would an Irish citizen.