Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1392. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made for persons (details supplied) to remain here with their family; when their deportation order will be lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40544/21]
View answerThe persons referred to by the Deputy are the subjects of Deportation Orders signed on 7 September 2018.
Representations were subsequently received on their behalf requesting that the Deportation Orders be revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). Following detailed consideration of the information submitted in support of the request, the Deportation Orders were affirmed. The circumstances presented by the family in this case were fully considered both in the original decision to make Deportation Orders and in the decision to affirm the Orders. The reasons for these decisions were set out in the correspondence sent from my Department to the family.
I can assure the Deputy that both my own Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are taking a pragmatic approach in relation to the enforcement of Deportation Orders during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the clear commitments previously given, no Deportation Orders are being enforced during the pandemic, except in cases where an individual may be a threat to national security or whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest.
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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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.
