Written Answers Nos. 166 - 172
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when a visa might be offered in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4820/14]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 8 January 2013. Following full consideration, the Visa Officer decided to refuse the grant of the visa on 2 July 2013.
The decision to refuse was appealed on 05 September 2013.
The Visa Appeals Officer is currently seeking clarification on certain matters related to the application, prior to making a final decision. Once the decision is made, the applicant will receive a letter informing her of the decision on her application.
Queries in relation to general immigration matters 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.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding 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. [4821/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person mentioned has not renewed her permission to be in the State since the expiration of her permission on 10 May 2010. Neither has she made an application to INIS to have her immigration status regularised as advised in the reply to Parliamentary Question Number 200 on 26 September 2013.
Therefore it would appear that she has remained here without the appropriate permission which is in breach of Section 5(1) of the Immigration Act 2004 which provides that no non-national may be in the State other than in accordance with the terms of any permission given to him by the Minister. Furthermore, Section 5(2) of the Act provides that a non-national who is in the State in contravention of subsection (1) is for all purposes unlawfully present in the State.
The person concerned should immediately contact the General Immigration Section of INIS.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected residency status in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; if in the circumstances, their deportation order might be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4822/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State.
Representations were received from the person concerned asking that his Deportation Order be revoked, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended). This application is under consideration at present. When a decision has been made on that application the outcome of that decision will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by Email 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
169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4823/14]
View answerThe person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State on 1 December, 2005 for an initial two year period, under the revised arrangements applicable to the non-EEA national parents of Irish born children born in the State before 1 January, 2005, more commonly known as the IBC/05 Scheme. This permission was renewed for a further three years in 2007. His permission was subsequently renewed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), with the latest permission due to expire on 29 November, 2015.
An application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person concerned. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and is at an advanced stage. Further information was requested from the person concerned in a letter issued on 15 January 2014. Once the requested information has been received and assessed the case will be finalised and submitted to me for decision.
Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (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.
170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status and progress to date in the determination of an application for long term residency/naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4824/14]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the application has entered the final stage of processing and I intend to grant citizenship. A letter has issued to the person referred to by the Deputy asking her to submit the prescribed fee and other documents. When the fee and documentation has been received, the person concerned will be invited in due course to attend a citizenship ceremony, at which she will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive her certificate of naturalisation. The person concerned has permission to reside until 4 July, 2014.
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.
171. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence the way his Departmental contracts for taxi companies for the purposes of taxis for the use of Departmental staff are decided and allocated; if there is a public tender process for taxi companies wishing to apply for these contracts; the process for allocating the contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/14]
View answerThere are no contracts in place for the provision of taxi services to my Department.
Where travel is deemed necessary for business purposes, staff of my Department are required to use public transport wherever possible, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.
My Department is fully decentralised since 2010. It operates a taxi account through National Radio Cabs and City Cabs for use by staff of my Department, where required, when they are in Dublin for business purposes.
Every effort is made to minimise expenditure on official travel, including on taxis, by managing the location and frequency of meetings and by the use of video conference technology.
172. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the controls that are in place to deal with a situation (details supplied) regarding an infected animal found in woodland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4584/14]
View answerAt present, cruelty to animals is dealt with by the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended by the 1965 Act). Responsibility for pursuing cases under this legislation rests with An Garda Síochána, who may on receipt of a complaint investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an offence under this Act. I understand that investigations into this matter are ongoing by An Garda Síochána.
