Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 December 2013
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which further examinations can be undertaken in the case of their wish to adopt a family relative in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52382/13]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, if the placement of a non national child has been affirmed by The Adoption Authority of Ireland with a person or persons, then it may be possible for that person or persons to seek an Immigration Clearance Letter from the INIS.
An Immigration Clearance Letter is a process whereby prospective persons who wish to adopt a child from outside the State are issued with permission to bring the child into the State. The permission is required by Irish nationals or persons resident in Ireland who have been deemed suitable by the Adoption Authority of Ireland and who wish to adopt a non national child from outside the State. An Immigration Clearance Letter will only issue on verification of proof that all the criteria set by the Adoption Authority of Ireland have been fully met. This requires receipt by the Foreign Adoption Unit of the INIS of the original declaration of eligibility and suitability from the Adoption Authority of Ireland attesting to the prospective parents.
An application for an Immigration Clearance Letter can be made to the Foreign Adoption Unit, Immigration Services Section, INIS, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Contact details and documentation required are posted on the INIS website "www.inis.gov.ie" listed under Foreign Adoption.
I am advised by the INIS that no application for an Immigration Clearance Letter has been received in the Foreign Adoption Unit in respect of the person concerned.
The Deputy may wish to note that 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 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
