Written Answers Nos 141-148
141. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding long term residency in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41053/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my intention to republish the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill 2010, amended as appropriate, and I hope, mindful of the competing legislative demands of our EU/IMF/ECB Programme commitments, to be in a position to progress this matter later this year. Under the current administrative arrangement, a Green Card permit holder whose permit and immigration registration card are due to expire, having completed two years working in the State, does not need to apply to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for a renewal of this permit. Instead he/she presents in person to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for renewal of his/her immigration registration. Where all conditions have been met, registration is renewed and a Stamp 4 permission is issued for two years duration (renewable) subject to the conditions detailed on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website. The individual concerned has been granted Stamp 4 up to 20 August 2014 under these current arrangements, which enables him to continue to work in the State without the requirement of an Employment Permit. While this status falls short of long term residence it nevertheless represents a significant and early progression to enhanced immigration status.
142. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to purchase additional Garda mountain bikes in view of the fact that no new bikes have been purchased since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41057/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision and allocation of Garda resources, including mountain bikes, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of his identified operational requirements. I am advised by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that their existing mountain bike stock is sufficient to meet current policing requirements and, accordingly, they have no plans to purchase new bikes at present.
143. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested and charged with theft of a mobile phone from the person in Dublin City Centre in 2010/2011 and to date in 2012; the number of successful convictions obtained in each of these years to date in 2012; the additional measures Gardaí are taking to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41058/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide statistics directly to the Deputy. An Garda Síochána has in place a range of policing measures to tackle theft and other crime in Dublin city centre. I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the specific matter referred to by the Deputy and I will contact the Deputy again when the report is to hand.
144. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans purchased in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41059/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision and allocation of Garda resources, including transport, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of his operational requirements. In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of new marked and unmarked Garda cars and vans purchased in the periods referred to by the Deputy is outlined in the following table:
|
Year |
New Cars Purchased |
New Vans Purchased |
|
Van |
Marked |
Unmarked |
Marked |
Unmarked |
|
Sept 2012 |
10 |
6 |
21 |
0 |
|
2011 |
40 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
2010 |
90 |
69 |
0 |
0 |
|
2009 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2008 |
56 |
64 |
32 |
20 |
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1199 and 1238 of 18 September 2012, the way it is claimed that a person (details supplied) in County Dublin was out of the country when they were here in college and never left the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41078/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the second paragraph of my reply to Parliamentary Questions No. 1199 and 1238 of Tuesday, 18 September 2012 which is reproduced as follows. The position remains as stated.
Reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1199 and 1238
I am advised that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in May, 2008 and my predecessor decided in his absolute discretion to refuse the application. The person concerned was informed of this and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 16 December, 2010.
A second application for a certificate of naturalisation was received in September, 2011. One of the statutory residency requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, is that an applicant have one year's continuous reckonable residence in the State immediately prior to the date of application. On examination of the application submitted, it was determined that the person in question had a gap in the permission to remain stamps in their passport for part of the period in question. The application was consequently deemed to be ineligible and the person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued on 15 August, 2012.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the prescribed statutory requirements. The on-line Naturalisation Residency Calculator can be used as a guide to whether an individual satisfies the naturalisation residency conditions and, if not, give an indication of how long they should wait before making an application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility 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 from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1248 of 18 September 2012, the reckonable residency calculated in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 on the basis of continuous residency in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41079/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy's question. It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. It is a matter for each prospective applicant to satisfy themselves as to whether they meet the conditions for naturalisation. An on-line Naturalisation Residency Calculator has been made available on the INIS web-site at www.inis.gov.ie to assist individuals in checking whether they satisfy the naturalisation residency conditions and, if not, give an indication of how long they should wait before making an application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility 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 from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
147. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a decision has been made on an application for Peace Commissioner in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41093/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to made an application on 7 August, 2012 which is currently being considered in line with standard procedures. When consideration is complete, I will make a decision and the person concerned will be informed in due course.
148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí who have been approved for transfer to another station; the number of those who have been waiting for their transfer to proceed for more than one year; the number of those who have been waiting for their transfer to proceed for more than two years; the number of those Gardaí who have not been transferred due to a lack of qualified persons to replace them. [41106/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Garda Commissioner to provide the information sought by the Deputy where it is readily available. As soon as it is to hand, I will contact the Deputy directly.
