Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2018
104. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure a person (details supplied) can return to his or her home country for a short period and, subsequently, re-enter the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9099/18]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that in the case of a person who has not yet had a final decision made in their case to remain in the State, it is open to the person concerned to avail of the option of voluntary return. This option, if taken up, would leave it open to the person concerned to apply to return to this State at a future date should they establish a valid basis for doing so.
Alternatively, as with all persons who have no valid permission to remain in the State, their case will be considered under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The outcome of this process is either a Deportation Order is issued or a permission to remain is granted by the Minister. It is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of this process and it is not possible for someone to leave and legally re-enter the State while their case is under consideration.
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.
