Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Thursday, 13 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 158-165

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (158)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when an appointment will be made with the relevant immigration officer to facilitate update of stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been unable to obtain such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28594/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Section 9 of the Immigration Act, 2004 provides for the setting up of a register of non-nationals who obtain permission to remain in the State. This register is maintained by the officer in charge of the Garda National Immigration Bureau in the Dublin Metropolitan area or by the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána in a Garda District outside that area. The obligation on certain non-nationals to 'register' is also provided for under this provision.

Given the address of the person concerned, she is obliged to register in Leixlip Garda District, Leixlip, Co. Kildare telephone number (01) 6667800. Since the Deputy's Question does not make it clear where the person concerned has been attempting to make an appointment to register, I suggest that she contacts Leixlip Garda Station with a view to making an appointment to see the immigration officer at that station.

Naturalisation Applications

Ceisteanna (159)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position on the determination of eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28595/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in September, 2011.

The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. While good progress continues to be made in reducing the large volume of cases on hands, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that for a broad range of reasons some cases will take longer than others to process. It is a statutory requirement that, inter alia, applicants for naturalisation be of good character. In some instances that can be established relatively quickly and in other cases completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. I can, however, inform the Deputy that enormous progress has been made in dealing with the backlog and steps are being taken to process all outstanding applications as quickly as possible.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

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.

Family Reunification Policy

Ceisteanna (160)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position and-or any particular procedure to be followed in respect of renewal of Stamp 4 status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28596/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy was approved as the subject of a Family Reunification application on 16th May 2006. I am further informed by INIS that the person referred to by the Deputy was granted permission to enter and reside in the State pursuant to Section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and is entitled to the rights and privileges specified in Section 3 of the Act for such period as the person who made the family Reunification application on their behalf remains the holder of a declaration of refugee status.

Registration is, however, a matter for An Garda Síochána.

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.

Immigration Status

Ceisteanna (161)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and-or expected position in the determination of residency status-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28597/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Given that he had no valid basis to remain in the State, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 2nd November, 2012, that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why he should not have a Deportation Order made against him. Representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.

The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be considered before a final decision is made. Once a decision has been made, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Naturalisation Applications

Ceisteanna (162)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position on determination of residency-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28598/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in December, 2012.

The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

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.

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (163)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when an application to update stamp 4 will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28599/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that the person referred to by the Deputy has a pending application for residency. Further clarifications have been sought and the application is receiving favourable attention. A decision will issue shortly.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Naturalisation Applications

Ceisteanna (164)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position on residency status-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20; if he will indicate the correct level of fee in respect of update of Stamp 4 and-or application for naturalisation in their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28600/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The prescribed certification fee to be paid by a standard adult applicant on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation is €950. This was last increased by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Fees) Regulations 2008, which came into effect on 1 August, 2008.

As soon as the prescribed fee and other documents have been received from the person referred to by the Deputy, arrangements can be made for him to attend a citizenship ceremony at which he will make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish Nation and loyalty to the State and receive his certificate of naturalisation.

Subsidiary Protection Applications

Ceisteanna (165)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position on determination of residency-eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28601/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned is a failed asylum applicant. Arising from the refusal of his asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 22nd April, 2009, that the then Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against him. In addition, he was notified of his entitlement to apply for subsidiary protection in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.

The person concerned submitted an application for subsidiary protection. When consideration of this application has been completed, the person concerned will be notified in writing of the outcome.

In the event that the application for subsidiary protection is refused, the position in the State of the person concerned will then be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be considered before a final decision is made. Once a decision has been made, this decision, and the consequences of the decision, will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.

The Deputy should note that as the person concerned has no current right of residency in the State, he would not be in a position to meet the lawful residency criteria applicable to persons applying to my Department for a Certificate of Naturalisation.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Barr
Roinn