Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 November 2016
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35598/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question entered the State on 18th June 2012 and was registered as a student on Stamp 2 conditions between 19th July 2012 and 2nd July 2014. It appears that the person in question has remained in the State since that date without permission.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Residence Division of INIS does not currently have any application for the person before them. It appears that the person concerned does not have permission to remain in the State, and they should be aware that it is illegal, under the Immigration Act 2004, for them to reside in the State without permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality. A person found guilty of such an offence is liable, under section 13 of the Immigration Act 2004, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. As the person in question does not have immigration permission to remain in the State, they are not entitled to work. Against this background, the person concerned should attend their local Garda National Immigration Bureau Office as soon as may be.
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 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in questions where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
