Thursday, 22 Jan 2015

Written Answers Nos. 115-123

Legal Services Regulation

Questions (115)

Clare Daly

Question:

115. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 399 of 14 January 2015, her views on whether trust conflicts were illuminated in a declaration of early 2012 by a prominent stakeholder, referred to in the reply as an initial iteration, and that in the public interest and in view of an extraordinary degree of legislative churn these conflicts should be addressed through a genuine conversation with citizen stakeholders; her views on whether for the benefit of online public participation the Bill could be formatted in plain English; and if she will confirm that it is the intention of the Government to guillotine Report Stage of the Bill. [3167/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

In my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 399 of 14 January 2015 I have clearly set out for the Deputy the circumstances in relation to the specific matter raised and the fact that it concerned the views expressed by but one of the many stake-holders to the Legal Services Regulation Bill. These views are validly expressed, both to Government and to individual Members of both Houses, as part of the open legislative process to which the Deputy has made her own substantial contribution in the detailed debate of the issues concerned. All of these proceedings and the various issues and interests which they raise and seek to balance are a matter of public record. There is no intention to guillotine Dáil Report Stage of the Legal Services Regulation Bill which is scheduled to resume on 24 February 2015 with additional time allocated over the following days as may be required by the Dáil to complete its work on this Stage of the Bill.

Domestic Violence Incidence

Questions (116)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

116. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the number of cases of domestic violence involving male victims of domestic abuse that were reported to An Garda Síochána in County Donegal in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3179/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide such relevant information as may be available directly to the Deputy.

International Terrorism

Questions (117)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

117. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views regarding the increased security that will be applied in this country in view of the Paris attacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3213/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

There is considerable concern across Europe and elsewhere at the phenomenon of individuals travelling to conflict areas in the Middle East and the possible threat to national security by those who return from these areas. The events in Paris and Brussels are the most recent manifestations of this threat in some time. The events show that all States must remain vigilant and attentive to the risks posed by this phenomenon.

I am aware of recent media comments to the effect that Ireland is being used as a transit hub for persons travelling to Syria or Iraq. I have already made it clear that there is no evidence that Ireland is a particular transit hub for persons to travel to Turkey on the way to Syria and Iraq, any more than any country with international flight connections can be said to be a transit hub for these persons. I should add that Ireland already has strong immigration controls in place and cooperates fully in exchanges of information with other countries.

There are a small number of people based here who support extremism and would try to facilitate others to travel to conflict zones. The activities of these people are closely monitored by An Garda Síochána. There is also very close cooperation with security services in other jurisdictions.

Ireland, like any other democratic country with similar values, is not immune to a threat from international terrorism. While an attack on Ireland is possible it is not assessed as likely. There is no specific information in relation to a threat to Ireland. An Garda Síochána are keeping the level of threat from international terrorism under continuous review in light of ongoing developments and continuing to take all appropriate measures to counteract this threat. In this they have the full support of the Government.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the necessary legislation is in place to address terrorist threats. The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 has already passed all stages in the Seanad. The Bill, when enacted, will create the three new offences of, public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for terrorism and training for terrorism. These offences will carry sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment on conviction on indictment. It is expected that the Bill will come before the Dáil shortly.

Asylum Applications

Questions (118)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current resident status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3222/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

If the person whose details were supplied has made an application for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they remain in the protection process. The position in this regard is in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of asylum applicants.

Protection applicants are issued with a temporary residence permission pending a decision on their application.

Residency Permits

Questions (119)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status and procedures outstanding in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3227/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned has submitted written representations. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement, in advance of a final decision being made in the case of the person concerned.

With a view to having the case of the person concerned progressed, a representative of the INIS wrote to the person concerned on 8th December, 2014 requesting the submission of specific documentation. There is no record of the requested documentation having been submitted to date. The position in the State of the person concerned can be further considered upon receipt of the requested documentation.

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.

Residency Permits

Questions (120)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the alternatives available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford to facilitate a current application for regularisation of residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3229/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on their parentage of an Irish citizen child. While the person concerned has submitted some of the required documentation, other items of documentation remain outstanding. Foremost among the outstanding items are a clear copy of the bio-data page from the Irish citizen child's passport and documentation which shows the role, both financial and emotional, the applicant is playing in their child's life. Upon receipt of the outstanding documentation, this application can be further considered.

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.

Residency Permits

Questions (121)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8. [3230/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the couple mentioned have permission to be in the State until 11/12/2015 and 16/12/2015 respectively.

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.

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (122)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation following submission of documentation, acknowledged on 14 May 2014, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3231/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.

Processing of the application is well advanced and the case will be submitted to me for decision in due course.

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.

Deportation Orders

Questions (123)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3233/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I 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's legal representative, pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. The Deputy might wish to note that any such decision will be to 'affirm' or to 'revoke' the existing Deportation Order. In the mean-time, the Deportation Order remains valid and in place.

The effect of the Deportation Order is that the person concerned must leave the State and remain thereafter outside the State.

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.