Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
348. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 615, 616 and 618 of 17 May 2022, if she will provide information in relation to the nine extensions referenced; the persons who were included in these extensions; the dates that they were announced; the time periods the extensions were processed; and if conditions were put on those who were included in these visa extensions. [28590/22]
View answerExtensions of immigration and international protection permissions have been provided by successive Ministers for Justice since the beginning of the pandemic, full details of which can be found on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/news-and-updates/.
Each of the extensions provided were applied to all valid permissions that were due to expire in a stated upcoming period of time during the pandemic. Permissions were extended on the same terms and conditions as the permission already held. Any non-EEA national whose Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card had expired was allowed to rely on the each of the published notices on my Department's website to prove their immigration permission was renewed in line with them.
These extensions were made in the context of an uncertain health and international travel situation to provide assistance and assurance to people who use our immigration services.
Now that those circumstances are returning to normal, it is important that we also return to a more normal way of doing business. This includes in relation to first-time registrations and renewals, and processes and procedures are in place to allow customers to do so as I outlined last week.
