Tuesday, 26 Jul 2022

Written Answers Nos. 878-892

Middle East

Questions (879)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

879. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he anticipates that a settlement would have to include an arrangement for the return of Palestinian refugees to the property they themselves or their forebears left behind or were forced to leave in the context of his Department’s commitment to recognise a State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement; his views on whether the principle that both first generation refugees and their descendants have a right to return to their property and that this is firmly entrenched in international law; his further views on whether the apartheid framework operated by Israel in denying Palestinian refugees their right of return while at the same time giving those of Jewish descent an automatic right to immigrate to Israel and gain Israeli citizenship is further evidence of the ethnic cleansing taking place and another major obstacle to a future settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39675/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ireland remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ends the occupation that began in 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States, on the basis of international law, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

A lasting settlement must include the resolution of all permanent status issues. This includes the issue of refugees, which only the parties can resolve through negotiations, with the support of the international community.

I have been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to raise our concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the Palestinian people on a regular basis directly with the Israeli authorities, including during visits to the region, as well as at EU and UN level. I have visited the region on five occasions and have raised these issues bilaterally with my Israeli counterparts during those visits.

The overall human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory remains a key priority for me as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ireland will continue to take every opportunity to stress the need for respect for human rights and full accountability, in particular in our role as a member of the UN Security Council. I am committed to working with partners to promote coherent and effective action towards a lasting and peaceful two-State solution.

Question No. 880 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 881 answered with Question No. 855.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (882)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

882. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a decision on their application for citizenship; if the process can be expedited given the circumstances of the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39687/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the service due to necessary COVID-19 restrictions, applicants should allow over 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the subsequent reassignment of FBR staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the FBR service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period.

The processing of FBR applications resumed in November 2021. FBR staff have since processed 7,600 FBR applications while also continuing to provide support to passport services due to the unprecedented levels of passport demand.

The FBR service provides an emergency service for Foreign Birth Registration in cases of exceptional urgency, such as expectant parents, or stateless persons. Such applicants may continue to contact the Passport Service directly. For other applications, the FBR service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt.

Supporting documentation for the application to which the Deputy has referred was received on 6 May 2020, and is due to be processed in the near future. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant in this regard.

The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBR applications since June of last year. A major recruitment drive, in partnership with the Public Appointments Service, has been underway over the past several months. This has seen the Passport Service taken on over 500 staff since June 2021.

The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead. This will allow for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications with the aim of significantly reducing turnaround times for these applications.

Question No. 883 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 884 answered with Question No. 855.

Passport Services

Questions (885, 921, 978, 981)

John Brady

Question:

885. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) given that the application has exceeded the target issue date and date of travel is imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39715/22]

David Cullinane

Question:

921. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of passport applications for children (details supplied) given that they have exceeded the target issue date and applicants’ travel dates are imminent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40091/22]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

978. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urgently review an urgent passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40942/22]

James Lawless

Question:

981. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport (details supplied) that is required by 26 July 2022 will be examined and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41021/22]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 885, 921, 978 and 981 together.

With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Question No. 886 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 887 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 888 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 889 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 890 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 891 answered with Question No. 855.

Question No. 892 answered with Question No. 855.