Thursday, 18 Jan 2018

Residency Permits

Questions (123)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a copy of a record of residency based on stamp 4 renewals will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2697/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that requests for records of residency should be submitted to the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

I am further advised that such requests must be sent by post to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received.

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 (124)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will re-examine the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2698/18]

View answer

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), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.

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 all other applicable legislation, in advance of a final decision being made.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (125)

Niall Collins

Question:

125. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 14 December 2017, when a reply will issue. [2714/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

In response to the Deputy's question and to question no. 272 of 14 December 2017, please see the table detailing the information requested.

Division/agency expenditure was incurred	Events/ Campaign or Policy to which expenditure related	Expenditure Type: Photography, advertising, media training and preparation,	Company/person payment was made to	Cost of expenditure - €
Dept. of Justice & Equality (Dept.)	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (printed media)	T. Kilmartin & Son(I) ltd	€462.48
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Logoprint	€295.20
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Logoprint	€412.05
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (printed media)	T. Kilmartin & Son(I) ltd	€339.48
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (printed media)	T. Kilmartin & Son(I) ltd	€381.25
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Logoprint	€4,041.78
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (printed media)	T. Kilmartin & Son(I) ltd	€517.75
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Spike Badges	€179.99
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Spike Badges	€179.99
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (newspaper articles)	Metro Éireann	€1,291.50
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Logoprint	€3,733.05
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (merchandise)	Marketing Impressions	€744.15
Dept.	Blue Blindfold campaign (Human trafficking awareness)	Advertising (printed media)	T. Kilmartin & Son(I) ltd	€424.01
(Irish Human Rights Equality Commission) IHREC	International Protection Seminar	Photography	Fennell Photography	€861.00
IHREC	CEDAW Consultation	Photography	Ebony & Pearl	€405.90
IHREC	Annual Report Launch	Photography	Son Photography	€467.40
IHREC	OPCAT Round Table Discussion	Photography	Son Photography	€473.55
IHREC	Full Page Advert in Yearbook and Diary	Advertising	Public Sector Magazine	€4,428.00
IHREC	National Public Awareness Campaign	Advertising	Havas Media	€76,535.52
IHREC	National Public Awareness Campaign	Advertising	Havas Media	€54,993.30
IHREC	National Public Awareness Campaign	Advertising	Havas Media	€47,353.77
IHREC	National Public Awareness Campaign	Graphic Design and Campaign Development and Production	Language Advertising & Design	€58,056.00
IHREC	Recruitment advertising	Advertising	Activelink	€180.00
IHREC	Recruitment advertising	Advertising	Mediavest	€1,423.12
IHREC	Recruitment advertising	Advertising	Language	€184.50
IHREC	Recruitment advertising	Advertising	Public Appointment Service	€2,830.02
IHREC	Recruitment advertising	Advertising	Public Appointment Service	€3,354.50
IHREC	PR services to cover periods of leave	Public Relations	Q4 Public Relations	€6,088.50
Dept.	Purpose: The purpose of the contract is for the administration and running of the “Someone Like Me” Primary Schools Art Competition. For further details see: http://www.someonelikemecompetition.ie/	Campaign Materials, Event Costs, Website Development, Public Relations, Third Party PR Costs	Real Nation	€30,203.00
Dept.	National awareness campaign ‘What would you do?’ (if you witnessed domestic violence)	Advertising	TBWA Dublin	€168,302.86
Dept.	National awareness campaign ‘What would you do?’ (if you witnessed domestic violence)	Advertising	PHD Media Ireland	€767,345.87
Courts Service	Website development	Website Development	MOR Solutions	€13,443.90
Courts Service	Eircom Phonebook 2018	Advertising/Information Notice	FCR Media LTD	€7,623.54
Courts Service	Advertising vacancies - Judicial Assistants	Advertising	GTI Ireland	€1,537.50
Courts Service	Advertising vacancies -Court Messengers	Advertising	Iconic Newspapers	€787.20
Courts Service	Advert- Judicial Appointments/Judicial Assistants/Publication of Official Language Act Notice	Advertising	Mediavest Ireland	€27,757.99
Courts Service	Calendar for the year for Circuit Court Dates	Advertising/Information Notice	Sureprint (Clonmel) Ltd	€366.54
Courts Service	Advertising Vacancies – Court Messengers	Advertising	Treaty Radio Ltd	€1,205.40
Dept.	EU Funds launch and call for funding applications in 2016	Placement of Advertisements in Newspapers	Mediavest	€11,988.99
Legal Aid Board	Job advertisements	Advertising	WestMeath Examiner (Celtic Media Newspapers) 209.10 Donegal Democrat 398.52 Law Society of Ireland 184.50 Law Society of Ireland 72.57 Law Society of Ireland 184.50	€1,049.19
Legal Aid Board	Completion of 2016 website redevelopment project Development of online legal aid application facility to be made available on Legal Aid Board website	Website Development	PTools Crystalsoft	€1,830.00 €4,735.50
Legal Aid Board	Media interview training and preparation	Media Training for newly appointed Chairman of the Legal aid Board	Fuzion Communications	€1,060.00
Dept.	Fireworks Information Notice regarding the severe criminal penalties that apply for igniting illegal fireworks and the possession of same with intent to supply others	Advertising	Mediavest	€36,676.44
Dept.	Realistic Imitation Firearms Public Consultation on legislative proposals	Advertising	Mediavest	€3,245.62
Private Security Authority	To introduce and highlight regulation and licensing to sectors of the Irish security industry in accordance with the Private Security Services Acts	Advertising. (placing ads on radio stations and in publications)	Mediavest	€225,135.00
(Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service) INIS	Website Development	Website Development	Evros	€125,695.52
(Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission)GSOC	GSOC staff photography	Photography	Event Portraits Limited T/A Image Bureau	€1,906.80
GSOC	Development of new updated website	Website Development	McCadden	€16,799.00
GSOC	Deputy Director of Investigations post	Advertising	Public Appointments Service	€8,074.67
Forensic Science Ireland	New Building in Backweston	Advertising Displays and Flags	Neogen	€1,082.40
Forensic Science Ireland	Farmleigh – Launch of Annual Report	Photography	Maxwell Photography	€590.40
Forensic Science Ireland	Backweston – Turning of the sod	Photography	Maxwell Photography	€485.85
Forensic Science Ireland	Forensic Detection Programme	Training	The Communications Clinic	€4,200.00
Forensic Science Ireland	Communication Skills Training	Training	The Communications Clinic	€2,100.00
Policing Authority	Training for Communications Unit	Public Relations	Dublin Business School	€1,500.00
Policing Authority	Appointment of Head of Governance & Corporate Services	Advertising	Media Vest	€3,402.12
Policing Authority	Training for Communications Unit	Public Relations	Public Relations Institute of Ireland	€5,670.00
Policing Authority	Public meetings with Garda Commissioner	Advertising	Graphic & Paper Merchants Irl Ltd.	€1,178.34
Irish Prison Service	Ongoing website development & maintenance	Website Development	Lounsta Limited	€2,626.05
Irish Prison Service	Advertising for complaints investigators and expressions of interest for prisoner services	Advertising	Mediavest Ireland Ltd	€9,000.00
Irish Prison Service	Advertising in the Big Issue	Advertising	Newlands Publishing Ltd	€1,476.00
(Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration) OPMI	Call for funding applications for National Funding to Promote the Integration of Immigrants and the Communities Integration Fund	Public Information Notices in national media	Mediavest	€20,461.00
OPMI	Public consultations for CERD(Committee for Elimination of Racial Discrimination)	Public Information Notices in national media	Mediavest	€6,274.88
Dept.	Designation of a Judge of the High Court in Accordance with the Provisions of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011	Public Information	Iris Oifigiúil	€31.00
Dept.	Notice of S.I. No. 46 of 2017 Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 (Written Record of Approval) (Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission) Regulation 2017	Public Information	Iris Oifigiúil	€31.00
Dept.	Confirmation of renewal of the Section 18 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Section 8 of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009	Public Information	Iris Oifigiúil	€84.00
Dept.	Notice of S.I. No. 369 of 2017. Independent Reporting Commission Act 2017 ( Commencement) Order 2017.	Public Information	Iris Oifigiúil	€31.00
(National Disability Authority) NDA	(Royal Institute of Architects Ireland) RIAI Universal Design Awards	Photography	Roger Kenny	€615.00
NDA	Universal Design Grand Challenge Student Award Event	Photography	Conor O'Mearain	€492.00
NDA	http://universaldesign.ie/Products-Services/Customer-Communications-Toolkit-for-the-Public-Service-A-Universal-Design-Approach/	Web Development	Ptools	€2,044.88
NDA	http://homesforsmartageing-ud.com/	Web Development	MCI Communications	€4,047.95
Dept.	Assistant Secretary of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service	Job advertising	Execjobs.ie	€522.75
Dept.	Chief Inspector and Member of the Garda Inspectorate	Job Advertising	Police Oracle IACP.Org Police Professional	€1,696.71
Dept.	Director General Forensic Science Ireland	Job Advertising	New Scientist Nature.com Science.com Forensic Science Society	€3,872.64
Dept.	Deputy State Pathologist	Job Advertising	Canadian Ass. of Pathologists British Medical Journal Lancet Journal of American Med Ass New Zealand Medical Ass. Canadian Med Ass. Journal Medical Journal of Australia	€9,464.49
Dept.	Deputy Secretary Criminal Justice System	Job Advertising	Execjobs.ie	€522.75
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner	GDPR awareness campaign	External communications advice	Powerscourt Financial Media Ltd.	€117,465.00
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner	2016 Annual Report	Photography	John Ohle	€422.00
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner	Launch of ‘GDPR and You’ Campaign	Photography	Maxwell Photography	€486.00
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner	Scaling up of GDPR Awareness campaign	Awareness campaign and media advertising	The Friday Agency	€78,763.00
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner	Development of GDPRandYou.ie microsite	Website development	Vocal Ltd.	€29,938.00
*Valuation Office	National Revaluation Programme	Advertising	Mediavest Ltd	€47,167.59
*Valuation Office	Providing contact details of Valuation Office	Advertising	Golden Pages	€5,571.90
*Valuation Office	Staff photographs for whodoeswhat.gov.ie website	Photography	Photocare Ltd	€113.50
*Valuation Office	Development of Valuation Office website	Website Development	PTOOLS	€42,349.73
*Property Registration Authority	PRA Advertising - Public Sector Magazine	Advertising	DEVLIN MEDIA	€2,453.85
*Property Registration Authority	Golden Pages Advertising	Advertising	FCR MEDIA LTD	€5,571.90
*Property Registration Authority	Logo ID & Photo ID	Advertising	IPA	€590.40
*Property Registration Authority	Law Society Gazette Advertising	Advertising	LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND	€8,610.00
*Property Registration Authority	Production of Instructional Videos	Advertising	W1 DESIGN	€16,911.50
*Property Registration Authority	Ideal Home Show (Spring 2017)	PR	KELOWNA ELECTRIC LTD	€142.68
*Property Registration Authority	Ideal Home Show (Spring 2017)	PR	SDL EXHITITION LTD	€1,752.75
*Property Registration Authority	National Ploughing Championships 2017	PR	SURVEYORS IRELAND	€2,552.08
Property Services Regulatory Authority	Photography of newly appointed board	Photography	Macinnes Photography	€590.40
Property Services Regulatory Authority	Media Campaign to highlight the need to use a licenced Property Services provider	Media Campaign	Mediavest	€30,423.44
Property Services Regulatory Authority	Media Campaign to highlight the necessity to make a commercial lease return	Media Campaign	Mediavest	€49,078.86
*(Ordnance Survey Ireland) OSI	European Forum for Geography & Statistics	Photography	Carr Communications	€1,722.00
*OSI	Adverts placed to support the sale of products and services in media publications	Advertising	Numerous print companies Outsider Magazine, BMF, Devlin print, Teagasc, IPAV, Firecall Magazine, Public Sector Times, Public Sector Magazine	€15,840.00
*OSI	Purchase of website Template for word press and logo design	Website Development		€510.00
*OSI	European Forum for Geography & Statistics	Public relations	Carr Communications	€2,713.00
*OSI	General Public Relations support	Public Relations	Carr Communications	€7,811.95
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising	Carat	€457,064.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Communications advice, advertising, web development	BBDO	€35,355.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach, PR	Public Relations, media interview training and preparation	Hume Brophy	€14,440.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising, communications advice	Behaviour & Attitudes	€7,995.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising	Conference Partners	€1,538.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising	Inform displays	€23,124.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising	Guerin Media	€2,269.00
Insolvency Service of Ireland	Back on Track information campaign – ISI outreach	Advertising	North Wicklow Times	€443.00
(Irish Refugee Protection Programme) IRPP	Preparation and delivery of communications strategy to support the implementation of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.	Communications Advice	The Communications Clinic Ltd.	€2,691.24
IRPP	Public Notices in the national Media seeking expressions of interest in providing accommodation for refugees	Newspaper advertising	Mediavest	€4,455.35
Dept.	Recruit Prison Officer Ceremony	Photography Services	Robert Redmond Photography	€553.50

* Responsibility for Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office (including the associated Valuation Tribunal) has been transferred to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This Transfer of Functions took effect from 1 January 2018

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (126)

Clare Daly

Question:

126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is standard practice to notify applicants for naturalisation that they will be issued with a certificate of naturalisation and for an invitation to a citizenship ceremony to issue only for that invitation to then be withdrawn and a person left waiting for 15 months for another decision on an application to issue such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [2415/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the invitation to the person concerned to attend a Citizenship Ceremony was withdrawn as the application for naturalisation required further investigation and consideration. The processing of the application is on-going. Additional information may, if required, be requested from the applicant in due course. When all necessary information has been compiled the application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the processing requirements and the time taken to complete the necessary checks vary from case to case, it is not possible to indicate when a decision will be given in respect of his application.

It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay, however, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. Occasionally it may arise that the consideration of an application may require to be revisited.

EU Bodies

Questions (127)

Alan Kelly

Question:

127. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the selection procedure he plans to use to select a suitable person for nomination by Ireland as an advocate general of the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2018; and the timeframe for same. [2416/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is to nominate a candidate to serve as an Advocate General to the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period October 2018 to October 2024.

Article 253 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU sets out the criteria for appointment of an Advocate General as 'persons whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their respective countries or who are jurisconsults of recognised competence...'

Member States are free to adopt their own domestic process for selecting a nominee to serve as an Advocate General. It has been agreed that a similar process to that undertaken for both the appointment of a Judge of the General Court of the European Union in 2016 and a Judge of the European Court of Justice in 2015 be used for this appointment.

This process will involve:

- Establishing an independent expert panel to assist in the identification of persons suitable for appointment as an Advocate General to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

- The Panel to invite expressions of interest by public advertisement.

- The Panel to consider written expressions of interest and to recommend suitable candidates to the Government for decision of the Government.

The process is currently underway to establish the independent expert panel, which will comprise three independent experts. It is envisaged that the selection procedure to nominate a candidate to serve as an Advocate General to the Court of Justice of the European Union will be completed by end of April 2018.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (128)

Dara Calleary

Question:

128. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the €4 million in capital underspend in his Department as outlined in the fiscal monitor for December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2495/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform the Deputy that the principal reason for the 2017 capital underspend in my Department relates to the construction of a new laboratory for Forensic Science Ireland in Backweston, Co. Kildare. This project is being managed by the OPW and enabling works for the project have recently completed at a price less than budget. Final design is in the process of completion, and it is expected that the main construction project will commence in 2018 following procurement, with the majority of the build occurring during 2019 and completion in 2020.

Asylum Applications

Questions (129)

Clare Daly

Question:

129. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the avenues available to an Afghan refugee in Greece who cannot return to Afghanistan for fear of being murdered to seek asylum here. [2580/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

A person in Greece who wishes to seek asylum should apply for International Protection to the Greek authorities.

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Ireland is the only EU country that specifically chose to voluntarily opt in to participate in the EU relocation programme and the IRPP was the body responsible for delivering on our commitments in that regard. While the EU relocation programme ran until September 2017, Ireland continues to transfer asylum seekers from Greece who have been approved and who fall within an eligible nationality. Under the provisions of the EU relocation programme, persons considered for relocation had to be from countries with an EU-wide recognition rate for international protection of at least 75%. As Afghanistan did not meet this criterion, persons from there would not have been eligible for transfer to any other EU Member State, including Ireland, under the relocation programme.

In common with other EU Member States, Ireland is not in a position to accept direct requests for asylum from individuals in another state.

Naturalisation Eligibility

Questions (130)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the refusal of a naturalisation certificate for a person (details supplied) in east County Meath was unreasonable and wrong in view of the fact that the person was refused on the basis of being away on holidays for a short period despite living here for 44 years. [2592/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions for naturalisation prescribed in the Act. The statutory residence conditions are that the applicant must have a period of 1 year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the date of application and, during the 8 years immediately preceding that period, have had a further total residence amounting to 4 years (in the case of an application based on being the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen the Act reduces this further period to 2 years during the preceding 4 years).

Where an applicant is found to be non-resident for substantial periods of time such periods will not be reckonable for the purposes of satisfying the statutory residency conditions for naturalisation stipulated in the Act. This is of particular importance with regard to the requirement to have 1 year’s continuous residence in the State immediately prior to the date of application, and may also mean the requirement of total residence is not met. The guidance notes attached to the application form inform applicants that arrangements for assessment of residence are on the basis that the person is physically resident in the State for the required period of time and that where there are significant absences from the State the application may be refused. A reasonable and generous period of up to 6 weeks is allowed to provide for absences from the State for normal holidays and other short term and temporary nature absences, such as for a family bereavement or medical emergency.

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for naturalisation in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy is being reviewed in light of additional information supplied by the applicant and the case will be submitted to me as expeditiously as possible.

Departmental Projects

Questions (131)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

131. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to a press release (details supplied), his views on the plans to promote Ireland as an international litigation and arbitration hub; his further views on whether the number of new graduates entering the profession is sufficient to meet this goal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2614/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Question raised by the Deputy relates to an initiative proposed by the Bar of Ireland. Its core objective is to avail of those opportunities to increase the market for international legal services in Ireland that may emerge on foot of Brexit. As such, it is an initiative which is a natural fit with the responses being taken across our various services sectors by way of coming together under a national Brexit strategy. It also coincides with the decision by the European Council on 15 December 2017 allowing the Article 50 negotiations on Brexit to move into their second phase. The Bar of Ireland is to be commended on its ongoing work to advocate and develop this initiative with the Law Society, the wider legal community, IDA Ireland and key stakeholders including my own and other relevant Government departments who have come on board. While it continues to be work in progress, it is my intention to brief Cabinet colleagues and to propose the formal endorsement of this initiative by the Government when it has reached the appropriate stage.

In the development of this initiative consideration will, of course, be given to any relevant capacity issues. At the same time, it should be recognised that any resulting increase in employment opportunities which may arise for graduates entering the legal professions, who will come forward each year from a variety of academic backgrounds, will occur incrementally over a period of time. In light of this and of indications that there is something of an ongoing surfeit or equilibrium of qualifying legal professionals, it is my understanding that a shortfall in graduates entering the legal professions of the kind raised by the Deputy can be avoided.

It should also be noted that under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 the Legal Services Regulatory Authority has a number of reporting functions in relation to the provision of legal professional education. At present, for example, it is putting the practical arrangements in place for the provision, on foot of appropriate public consultations, of the required statutory report in relation to the education and training (including ongoing training) arrangements in the State for legal practitioners, including the manner in which such education and training is provided. This report, which has to be provided within two years of the Authority’s establishment day which was 1 October 2016, will cover those matters set out within section 34 of the 2015 Act.

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Staff

Questions (132)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the schedule of staff within the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, for each of the years since 2005; the number of requests for additional funding, staff resources or expertise that have been made by GSOC in each of these years; the purpose of the requested additional staff resources or expertise; the response of his department to each request, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2615/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

It has not been possible in the timeframe allowed to compile the information requested by the Deputy.

I have also asked GSOC for additional information to enable me to reply fully to the Deputy's question.

I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information has been compiled.

Residency Permits

Questions (133)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the case for temporary or long-term residency in the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2690/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the situation is the same as it was when I answered the Deputy's Parliamentary Question number 115 on 30 November 2017. The person referred to by the Deputy has permission to remain in the State until January 2018 and it is open to the person concerned to make submissions to INIS in order to seek a further permission.

If the person wishes to request further permission to remain in the State they may do so by writing directly to Residence Division Unit 1, Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

Work Permits Applications

Questions (134)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an update or upgrade of stamp 1G will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2692/18]

View answer

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 had permission to remain in the State under the Irish Graduate Scheme, Stamp 1G permission until 29 August 2017. The purpose of this permission is to enable the person concerned to apply for a work permit.

In accordance with the Student Guidelines found at www.inis.gov.ie the person concerned may only apply for the Irish Graduate Scheme once.

I have also been informed that the person concerned requested permission to remain in the State on 11 May 2017. However, this case is among a number of such cases which are currently being held by this Department pending the outcome of the appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of Luximon v. Minister for Justice and Equality which was heard in that Court on 30 November 2017. A decision will issue in this case when the matters before the Court have been finalised.

Immigration Status

Questions (135)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if leave to remain stamp 4 is available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2693/18]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

It is in the interests of the person concerned to submit any representations they consider would be helpful to their case so that when the Minister comes to making a decision in their case, he will have a comprehensive picture of their circumstances, a position that cannot be assured in the event that no such representations are submitted.