Written Answers Nos. 136-142
136. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 907 of 16 July 2013, if he will provide the total cost and usage for 2013; his plans to expand the use of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17184/14]
View answerThe current electronic monitoring contract is effective from 1 March 2013 and is due to expire in June 2014. Expenditure for the first year to 28 February 2014 is €23,533 approximately (excluding VAT) which covers the costs for 10 live units and monitoring. The Irish Prison Service is running a further tender process for the provision of 50 electronic monitoring devices. There are currently 4 offenders on conditional release with an electronic tag.
The use of electronic monitoring is mainly used by the Irish Prison Service to monitor hospital in-patients who have been granted temporary release from Prison. It thus allows for a significant reduction in staffing costs for hospital escorts. However, in considering any prisoner for temporary release, under the specified conditions relating to the management of the electronic monitoring process, public safety remains the primary operational consideration.
Last December, the Government approved the drafting of a wide-ranging Sexual Offences Bill. The General Scheme of the Bill includes provisions for the electronic monitoring of convicted sex offenders in specific circumstances. This legislation is currently being drafted. Electronic monitoring is also being examined by the group conducting an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy.
137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will set out the procedure to be followed to regularise residency in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17214/14]
View answerWho called for a North Korean banking model?
138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding temporary or long-term residency in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17215/14]
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 so therefore has no right to residency/naturalisation in the State. The Deportation Order was made following a comprehensive and thorough examination of her asylum claim and temporary leave to remain in the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
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.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17216/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that this application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most cases are now generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. 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.
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.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17217/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has had their permission to remain in the State renewed for a further two year period, valid to 17th August, 2015. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 26th August, 2013. This position still obtains.
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.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency and-or eligibility for naturalisation and-or update of stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 who requires the necessary updates for employment purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17218/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that this application is currently receiving attention and correspondence will issue to this person in the coming days.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 email service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17219/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that the person referred by the Deputy arrived in the State on 9 January, 2006, on which date he also applied for asylum. This application ultimately was refused, and he was so informed on 6 March, 2009. Subsequently, this person made an application for Subsidiary Protection under the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations, 2006 (Statutory Instrument No. 518 of 2006) on 30 March, 2009. The aforementioned application was refused, and he was notified of this refusal on 24 February, 2012.
This person also made representations against the making of a deportation order pursuant to Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) on 30 March, 2009. An examination of this person's file was carried out, taking into account the aforementioned representations, and it was recommended on foot of this examination that a deportation order be signed in respect of him. A Deportation Order was signed in respect of this person on 9 March, 2012. The applicant instituted Judicial Review proceedings on 28 March, 2012, challenging the refusal of his asylum claim, the refusal of his Subsidiary Protection application and the Deportation Order signed in respect of him, and accordingly, as the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further.
I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.
