Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Residency Permits.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

1160 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has received an application for residency based on marriage from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; the date the application was received in his Department; if this application has been acknowledged; the reference number of this application; if this person has been informed of any restrictions to their working; if his Department has had contact or communication with this person since the application was lodged; if this person has been given an indication of when this application will be processed; if they will be called for interview as part of this application; the average time it takes his Department to process similar applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20185/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I can confirm that my Department received an application from the person in question in March 2003 for permission to remain in the State based on her marriage to an Irish national. The application has been allocated the reference No. 69/100870/02.

Applications of this type are currently taking approximately ten months to finalise. I can confirm that the person in question has been in contact with the Department on four different occasions and was advised of the processing time of such applications. Part of the process can include an interview of each of the parties concerned, especially where the particular circumstances of a case suggest this is warranted. The person in question is aware of restrictions on working pending determination of her application and has referred to same in correspondence to my Department.