Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 April 2014
191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason registration of renewal of permission to remain on foot of stamp 4 status has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15925/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to parliamentary Question No. 147 of 14 November, 2013 which is set out at the end of the reply to this question.
I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the additional documentation referred to in my earlier reply was received from the person concerned on 19 March, 2014, on foot of a further request for the documentation by letter dated 22 January, 2014. A positive decision letter was issued to the applicant on 25 March, 2014. My officials in INIS will undertake a review of his case in light of his registration difficulties, and will be in touch with him in this regard shortly.
Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 14 November, 2013
The 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.
A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person concerned. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour 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. I am informed that this application is now at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
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.
