Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:404. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice if a decision on an appeal application for a long stay visa will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [30065/20]
View answerTuesday, 13 October 2020
Questions (404)
Written answers
Appeals are processed in the order in which they are received in order to be fair to all applicants. While every effort is made to process appeals received as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, the resources available to process them and the complexity of the application and subsequent appeal.
Processing times may also increase where the provision of additional documentation is supplied and a detailed assessment of family rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights are required. Unfortunately, I cannot at this time give a definitive date as to when this particular appeal will be finalised.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the way the Immigration Service of my Department conducts its business. In line with public health advice, the Immigration Service has implemented a suite of measures to help in reducing the spread of the virus. These measures include the implementation of remote working for staff in order to comply with social and physical distancing measures. Unfortunately, these measures have led to a reduction in processing capacity. While delays can be expected, including in the processing of family reunification visa applications, the Immigration Service is operating to the best of its ability.
Applicants may e-mail any queries directly to: visamail@justice.ie .
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.