Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2019
110. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a person (details supplied) has an entitlement to work here or in Northern Ireland while they are awaiting their naturalisation to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22132/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned made an application for permission to remain in this State as the spouse of an Irish national in November 2018. Applications are considered pursuant to the Policy Document on non-EEA Family Reunification and I understand that marriage to an Irish national does not confer an automatic entitlement to residence and access to the labour market in this State pending consideration of such applications. The Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in applications for permission to reside or work in Northern Ireland (NI) as they are a matter for the relevant competent authority.
The Deputy will also appreciate that applications for permission to reside with the right to access the labour market in this State are dealt with in chronological order. In that regard, it is expected that INIS will write to the person concerned this month to seek additional information and documentary evidence. I understand that the application will be considered further by INIS in light of a response from the person concerned.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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.
