Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2018
143. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to allegations that a submarket has developed for booked appointment slots with the GNIB in which persons are now allegedly selling slots to persons that need appointments; if these allegations are true; and the action he plans to take to deal with the problem. [38975/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNon-EEA nationals who intend to reside in the State for more than 90 days are required to register their immigration permission to be in the State. Non-EEA nationals living in Dublin register with the INIS, while non-EEA nationals living outside Dublin register in the Garda District they reside.
The INIS Registration Office operates an on-line appointment system, replacing the old queuing system which was the subject of much criticism some years ago. The online appointment system aims to provide certainty to those who come for registration so that they are dealt with within the hour of their appointment.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it recently come to the attention of officials that customers were finding it difficult to get registration appointments due to third party agents block booking appointments. This is entirely against the purposes for which the system was established making it more difficult for customers to secure an appointment. INIS has been working to counteract this using various technical solutions and in this regard an update to the on-line appointment software was introduced on 10 September which has been successful to date in preventing these abuses of the system.
