Written Answers Nos. 923-937
925. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the United States immigration authorities to ensure that persons who are refused by the electronic system for travel authorisation have the reason communicated to them. [40169/22]
View answerEase of travel between Ireland and the United States is vital for protecting our strong connections with the US, be that in business, academia, tourism or family connections. I welcome the recent decision to allow travel between Ireland and the United States without the need for a COVID-19 test for those who are fully vaccinated. I know this has come as very good news for many in Ireland, for the Irish living in the United States, as well as our American friends with links to Ireland and the rest of Europe.
Ireland is one of forty countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Program. This means that our citizens can apply for travel authorisation to enter the US via the automated US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system. This ability to apply for an ESTA is highly valued by Ireland as it simplifies and streamlines the application process for travel to the US for stays of up to 90 days for many of our citizens.
As you will appreciate, US immigration regulation and operations are a matter solely for the US authorities. I am aware that the ESTA programme is controlled by the US Department of Homeland Security and that specific reasons for a denial are not communicated to the individual or to the US Embassy here in Dublin.
Officials from my Department regularly engage with the US Embassy in Ireland's consular section to discuss immigration and visa issues in general terms. I understand that prospective travellers to the US whose ESTA application has been denied because they accidentally inputted incorrect information may seek redress via the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (TRIP) website.
I understand that, if a traveller is denied an ESTA for any reason and their circumstances have not changed, a new application will also be denied. However, this does not prevent prospective travellers from applying for a visa through the US Embassy. More information on this process can be found on the Embassy's website at ie.usembassy.gov/visas/.
929. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will invite his Greek counterpart to Ireland later in 2022. [40267/22]
View answerIreland's bilateral relationship with Greece is important and highly valued. I paid a bilateral visit to Greece from 16-17 June 2022 during which I held bilateral meetings with both the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, as well as Alternate Minister for EU Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. I had the opportunity to speak to an audience of Irish and Greek contacts at an event marking Bloomsday, organised by the Embassy of Ireland in Athens. In the course of my visit, I also had a valuable exchange with foreign policy experts at an event organised by the ELIAMEP think tank.
Greece is an important EU partner and influential player in relation to developments in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. My discussions with Foreign Minister Dendias covered bilateral and EU-UK relations as well as important issues on the international agenda, including Ukraine, the Middle East (Syria, Libya and the Middle East Peace Process), the Western Balkans and EU-Turkey relations. I was very pleased to make what was the first bilateral visit to Greece by an Irish Foreign Minister in some 18 years.
During my visit to Athens, I issued an invitation to Foreign Minister Dendias to visit Ireland, at his earliest convenience, and I look forward to welcoming him here, when he does.
934. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when an application for passport and foreign birth registration will be completed and document issued in the case of a person (details supplied) which was submitted in February last and is required for travel in October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40303/22]
View answerDue 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 23 February 2022, and is being stored in a secure environment.
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 take 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.
