Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2015
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the basis on which residency status will be determined and regularised for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38798/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that their records show that the person mentioned by the Deputy was first registered in the State in February 2012 with an immigration permission which expired in January 2014.
I understand that the individual in question has not renewed their permission since that date nor have they made an application for consideration for further permission. I am informed that this is the only record INIS have of this person being legally present in the State.
This person is, therefore, present in the State without immigration permission which is in breach of Section 5 (1) of the Immigration Act 2004 - which provides that no non-Irish national may be in the State other than in accordance with the terms of any permission given to them by or on behalf of the Minister. A person who is found to be in breach of the requirements of the Immigration Act 2004 may have committed an offence and if found guilty of such an offence would be liable under section 13 of the Act of 2004 to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both. The person in question should now present himself to his local Garda Station.
Queries in relation to the status of or advice on 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 INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
