Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2014
118. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she will take to end long queues outside the Garda National Immigration Bureau office on Burgh Quay in Dublin city; and her views on the welfare of persons who queue overnight there. [47506/14]
View answer122. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if separate Garda National Immigration Bureau arrangements will be made for employed tax paying persons, many of whom are here as the result of Industrial Development Agency incentives and who currently are often forced to take several days off work to queue for renewal in view of limited number of renewals dispensed each day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47580/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 122 together.
I should at the outset explain that the public offices in Burgh Quay service two separate functions – one dealing with non-EEA nationals seeking to register and renew their permission to be in the State, a function which is carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and a separate function dealing with applicants for re-entry visas to allow for short trips outside the State, usually for holidays. This latter function is carried out by staff of Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and it is in connection with this function rather than the registration function that the recent queries have arisen.
Neither I, as Minister, nor my officials wish for any applicants for services provided by my Department to feel that they have to queue outside office hours for long periods, particularly in cold weather conditions. In this particular case there is absolutely no need to do so because, unlike the registration functions, it is not a requirement of the re-entry visa applicants to turn up in person. Applications may be made by registered post and many thousands of applications are processed annually in this way. In addition, where applications are being made on behalf of a family, even in person, it is not necessary for the entire family to turn up at the public office - one member of the family may present the necessary paperwork and receive the visas.
That being said, there has been, in the last two weeks, an unprecedented level of demand for re-entry visas in the run up to Christmas – well above volumes of previous years. Given this sudden increase in demand, decisive action was taken with significant additional resources re-deployed to the re-entry visa office. The additional staff were deployed on two fronts. Firstly, to clear the volume of postal applications on hand as the delay in dealing with this no doubt caused concern for other applicants resulting in them feeling the need to queue and obtain their visa in person. The second task was to ensure that any person who came in person to the offices was dealt with on the same day.
As a result of these measures, by last Sunday night, 7 December, all the postal applications on hand were dealt with and since Friday last, 5 December, all persons who have come to the public office have been dealt with on the same day. This will continue to be the case so there is no need to queue, especially overnight and I would urge applicants not to do so.
INIS has regularly kept its website updated over the past week to inform applicants of the position and to stress that there is no need to queue outside its offices. This message has been also posted in its public office and has been relayed to NGOs. My Press Office also issued an information note to the press earlier this week. Obviously, it takes some time for the message to get through and there is an understandable concern by applicants who want to get home for Christmas. All applicants who are entitled to a re-entry visa should be assured that they will have it in time to enable them to travel for the holiday period.
On the broader question of improvements to systems and operations, a major reform of the delivery of immigration services is underway including the transfer of registration functions from the GNIB to INIS. This presents opportunities to streamline both registration and visa re-entry services and INIS will be introducing on-line services as part of this process. The introduction of on-line booking appointments will be prioritised for re-entry visas with the aim of its introduction in the first quarter of 2015.
In relation to the registration process operated by the GNIB in Burgh Quay, this function is currently working normally with all callers being dealt with on the day so there is no requirement to queue for this service. In common with the re-entry system, the immigration service is also planning to introduce an online booking system for appointments as part of a wider plan to transfer the registration function from the Garda National Immigration Bureau to INIS.
Obviously, it would be ideal if all immigration related business could be done through the postal system (as can currently be done in the case of re-entry visas) or through on-line services. However, in common with the operation of immigration functions in other States, immigrants seeking to register are required to present in person at the offices of the Minister. This is necessary for establishment of identity and as an anti-fraud measure. Accordingly, we must devise systems that meet the needs of our customers while at the same time maintaining appropriate checks and balances within the system. I believe the reform programme underway will achieve both of these aims.
