Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
99. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average time period between when a refugee or person with subsidiary protection makes an application for family reunification and the arrival of their family into the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26710/16]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that applications for Family Reunification are referred to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation, in accordance with Section 18 of the Refugee Act. Following the investigation a report is submitted for my consideration setting out the relationship between the refugee concerned and the subject of the application and their domestic circumstances. This process will generally be completed within 12 to 14 months. Where permission is granted for the family member to enter and reside in the State, the arrival thereafter of the family is a matter for the refugee to organise.
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.
