Written Answers Nos. 105-107
105. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of An Garda Síochána conducting spot-checks on the contents of planes landing at Irish airports for refuelling purposes to ensure that they are not carrying goods or munitions that make the landing contrary to Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45480/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft is accorded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952.
Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.
The Garda authorities consider fully in accordance with the law information in respect of any request to search an aircraft. An Garda Síochána remains fully committed to investigate all alleged breaches of criminal law involving the use of aircraft at Irish airports.
Statutory powers of search and entry are bestowed on An Garda Síochána under various legislative provisions and when authorised by a Judge. However, these powers are exercised in circumstances where a member of An Garda Síochána has a reasonable suspicion that an offence has occurred supported by some evidence. The mere assertion of wrongdoing by a member of the general public is clearly insufficient in this regard.
An Garda Síochána has investigated a range of complaints of alleged unlawful activity at Shannon Airport and, where appropriate, files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In all these cases, no further action was found to be warranted, owing to a lack of any evidence of unlawful activity.
I would point out, for the sake of clarity, that An Garda Síochána has no role in relation to the inspection of foreign State or military aircraft which, in accordance with international law, enjoy sovereign immunity.
106. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of foreign nationals who have been naturalised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and the number of naturalised persons registered on the electoral register since their naturalisation. [45490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the number of persons that have been naturalised from 2005 to date is 113,000 approximately.
Once granted citizenship new citizens acquire the same rights as all other citizens. A leaflet informing new citizens of their right to register and vote in all elections in the State, and how they can register, is included in the information packs issued to all candidates at citizenship ceremonies. However, my Department would not have any information on the number of naturalised persons who registered on the electoral register.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the required documentation has been received by the visa office for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who submitted all the required documentation a number of weeks ago and paid the requisite fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45528/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that on-line visa applications were made on 28 October 2015. The applications and supporting documentation have not been submitted to any of the Visa Offices or Irish Missions abroad.
The visa applications cannot be processed until the visa fee has been paid and the signed summary sheet and all the supporting documentation have been submitted to one of the Irish Embassies or Consulates in the surrounding area.
If the applicants are resident in Syria, they should submit their applications to the Honorary Consul in Damascus and it will be referred to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi. If they are unable to submit it there, they can submit their applications to one of the other Irish Embassies or Consulates in the surrounding area or directly to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi. Further information can be found on the website of the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi (www.embassyofireland.ae).
Guidelines on the visa application process including details of the required supporting documentation can be found on the INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie).
Queries in relation to general immigration matters 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 a response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
