Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2017
101. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visa applications made pursuant to Directive 2004/38EC from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen which have been pending for six months or longer by country in tabular form; the numbers refused in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7753/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
More generally, the Visa Office is currently experiencing delays in processing such applications due to the large volumes of applications of this type received particularly since the second quarter of 2015. Legal proceedings in relation to a number of similar such applications are currently before the courts, and accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that I am somewhat limited in what I can say on the matter. However, I can say that there has been an exponential increase in the number of such applications and with it increasing concerns around potential abuse of the Directive in relation to such cases. This has given rise to a current caseload in the region of 10,500 applications overall which have to be assessed very carefully to ensure that any fraudulent applications or potential abuses of the Directive are detected and dealt with appropriately.
While every effort generally is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of applications, their complexity, the possible need for the Visa Office to investigate, enquire into, or seek further information in relation to certain applications, and the resources available. The State has an obligation in that regard to take into account the overall integrity of its immigration system in dealing with applications.
|
Country |
Refused in 2016 |
Refused in 2017 |
Undecided applications (received more than 6 months) |
|
Afghanistan |
4 |
1 |
2,671 |
|
Iraq |
12 |
6 |
893 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lebanon |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Syrian Arab Republic |
6 |
0 |
1 |
|
Turkey |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Yemen |
1 |
0 |
25 |
|
Total |
28 |
7 |
3,592 |
