Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2019
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in the determination of a spousal application to join in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6205/19]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application referred to will be examined shortly, and a decision will issue directly.
For applications of this type, the Deputy will know that the Policy Document on Family Reunification published in December, 2013 contains a stated business target that visa applications to join Irish citizens should be dealt with within six months of receipt of application. However, it should be noted that this is a business target and does not constitute a legal obligation. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
