Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if family reunification can be facilitated to reunite a person (details supplied) with the spouse and children, who are currently in the Netherlands; the correct procedure to be followed in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1392/17]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question made an application for Family Reunification in respect of his wife and children in June 2015. His wife subsequently gave birth to twins and a second application for family reunification in respect of these children was received in July 2016.
The second application was forwarded to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation as required under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 and the applicant requested that we put his first application on hold pending the outcome of this investigation, so both applications can be considered together. The applicant has been requested to provide further information and documentation in respect of a number of outstanding issues. The application will be further examined on receipt of the requested information.
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 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 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.
