Written Answers Nos. 197-209
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the residency status-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40342/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for Long Term Residency has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently at an advanced stage and officials from INIS will be writing to the person concerned in the coming days to finalise it.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when the necessary residency status will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40343/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to has no application for residency pending.
I refer the Deputy to a recent Parliamentary Question No. 36904/13 of the 18th July, 2013 which referred to the father of the person concerned.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the course of examination of residency status/determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40344/13]
View answerThe person concerned is a failed asylum applicant. Arising from the refusal of his asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 30th January, 2008, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making written representations to the then Minister setting out the reasons why he should not have a Deportation Order made against him. In addition, he was notified of his entitlement to apply for subsidiary protection in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.
While the person concerned submitted an application for subsidiary protection, this application was subsequently withdrawn.
The case file of the person concerned will now be considered under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be fully considered in advance of a final decision being made. Once a final decision has been made, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.
The Deputy should note that as the person concerned has no current right of residency in the State, he would not be in a position to meet the lawful residency criteria applicable to persons applying to my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedure to be followed in the case of regularisation of residency/determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40345/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the first person referred to by the Deputy has not had permission to be in the State since 10 May 2010. A non-national may only be in the State in accordance with the terms of any permission given to him or her by or on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality. There is no record of this person having made an application to renew her permission to remain in the State; I would strongly advise the person concerned to make such an application immediately.
The second person referred to by the Deputy has been granted Long Term Residency in the State.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality tthe position regarding eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40346/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.
The Deputy will appreciate that the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. The application is currently at an advanced stage of processing and the person concerned will be informed of my decision in due course.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
202. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding determination of eligibility for stamp 4-naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40347/13]
View answerThe person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State in 2000 under the arrangements then applicable to the non-EEA national parents of Irish born citizen children. This permission was renewed on a regular basis until 2010. The person concerned applied to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to have his permission renewed prior to December 2010. His request was not processed due to concerns regarding his being part of a family unit. However, following consideration and receipt of all requested documentation from the person concerned, my officials granted him a further period of twelve months permission to remain in the State from 9 May, 2012.
The person concerned wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department in April, 2013 to seek further permission to remain in the State. He was requested to provide up to date documentation regarding his family situation and finances by letter dated 22 May, 2013. Some documentation was supplied by the person concerned but it was not considered sufficient. Further documentation regarding the family situation of the person concerned was requested by letter dated 23 July, 2013. To date this additional documentation has not been received. Upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, the case of the person concerned will be examined by the relevant officials in the INIS and a decision communicated to him in due course.
Officials in the Citizenship Division of the INIS inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's Question.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who has previously had residency status based on spousal or personal work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40348/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that an application for Long Term Residency has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy. This application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the requirements such as good character and lawful residence and will be processed further when these checks are completed.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and/or expected residency status-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; if he will set out any specific or particular requirements in respect of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40349/13]
View answerThe person concerned is a failed asylum applicant. Arising from the refusal of her asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 30th March, 2009, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of her. She was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making written representations to the then Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against her. In addition, she was notified of her entitlement to apply for subsidiary protection in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.
The person concerned submitted an application for subsidiary protection. When consideration of this application has been completed, the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.
In the event that the application for subsidiary protection is refused, the position in the State of the person concerned will then be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be fully considered before a final decision is made. Once a final decision has been made, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.
The Deputy will appreciate that as the person concerned has no current right of residency in the State, the issue of an application for a Certificate of Naturalisation does not arise at this time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
206. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40707/13]
View answerI take it that the Deputy is referring to personal appointments made by Ministers during the periods in question. The Deputy will appreciate that, given the considerable passage of time, records in respect of any personal appointments by Ministers in respect of 1981 are not readily available. Information on appointments in respect of 2011 and 2013 is set out below.
In 2011, in my capacity as Minster for Justice and Equality, I appointed two Special Advisers, one Personal Assistant (who performs the role of Press Officer) and one Personal Secretary, all of whom are still serving.
My predecessor, Mr Brendan Smith, did not make any personal appointments. His predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern appointed two Special Advisers, one Personal Assistant and one Personal Secretary. The individuals concerned served for a short period in 2011.
207. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if his Department or the Defence Forces has privatised or outsourced any part or all of the selection process for potential recruits to the Defence Forces, including psychological or behavioural testing; the parts or processes and the companies or persons that have received contracts and the value of same; the reason for doing this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40212/13]
View answerThe day to day administration of recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The Military Authorities have advised that the administration for the last General Service Recruitment campaign, which was held in 2012, along with the 2012 Army and Naval Service Cadetship Competitions was carried out by Permanent Defence Force personnel with assistance provided by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in the staging of the Psychometric Testing element of these competitions. No outside recruitment agency was utilised by the Defence Forces for any element of these competitions.
Online psychometric testing was introduced for the first time for the Army and Naval Service Cadetship Competitions in 2013. The services of Cut – E, a company that specialises in online psychometric testing, were used to conduct online psychometric testing as part of the selection process for Army and Naval Service Cadets. This facility is not available in the Defence Forces or PAS. The cost involved in availing of Cut – E services was €5,000 in 2013.
The services of CAE PARC Aviation, a specialist aviation recruitment company, were used to assist in the selection of Air Corps Cadets up to and including the 2012 competition. This company carried out specialist psychometric and psychomotor testing as the expertise in this particular area of testing is not available in the Defence Forces or in PAS. For the 2013 Air Corps Cadetship competition this function was undertaken by specialised aviation consultants, Health Psychology Ireland, following a tendering process. The cost involved in availing of PARC services in 2012 was €52,000. The cost for 2013 was €29,500.
209. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40700/13]
View answerNo advisors, programme managers, press officers, political staff and communication staff were employed by this Department in 1981. Prior to my taking office in March 2011, the staffing complement of the Private Office for the Minister for Defence included 2 special advisors.
I have not appointed any special advisors in my role as Minister for Defence. I have however engaged the services of a personal assistant who assists me in constituency matters. My Department’s Press Officer is a civil servant at Assistant Principal grade who is also responsible for a range of other duties.
