Written Answers Nos. 421-431
421. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the details of the car and driver expenses in her Department that were claimed by junior and senior Ministers in 2021, in tabular form. [31392/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of car and driver expenses claimed by Ministers in my Department in 2021 are as follows:
|
Minister |
Cost |
|
Minister of State Browne |
€13,115.84 |
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31367/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has unfortunately resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
In 2021, my Department issued 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest number of decisions made since 2015, and reflects positively the significant changes undertaken to date.
It is open to the applicant to contact the Citizenship Division of my Department at citizenshipinfo@justice.ie for an update on their application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
423. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice her plans to speed up applications for family reunification for families from Afghanistan in cases in which a family member left behind is at risk of serious injury or death at the hands of the Taliban. [31399/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the plight faced by the Afghan people following the collapse of the former Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban, that has further fuelled the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. A total of 528 applications have been received under the Programme and my officials are currently processing all applications with decisions expected to issue in the coming months.
In addition, since the beginning of August 2021, a total of 133 join family visas have been approved for Afghan nationals and 77 family reunification applications have been decided.
As you will be aware, the Government announced that a significant number of Afghan people would be allocated places on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), which is under the remit of my colleague, Minister O’Gorman. My Department provided the visas to facilitate their travel to Ireland and has issued more than 500 visas or letters in lieu.
It is recognised that all applicants for family reunification would wish to have a decision on their application made without delay. However, the nature of the process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. I want to reassure the Deputy that all possible efforts are being made to bring family reunification applications, across the range of avenues open to applicants, to a swift conclusion.
Visa applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland, submitted under the provisions of my Department's Non-EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification, are being assessed speedily and sympathetically.
Anyone that wishes to make an application for a visa to join a family member already living in Ireland, can do so online at: www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx . Eligible family members are generally dependent family members, including spouses, civil partners and children under the age of 18.
In addition, those wishing to apply to bring an elderly dependent to live with them in Ireland under a Stamp 0 permission can find further information at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-a-non-eea-non-swiss-national/dependent-elderly-relative/ .
424. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the number of police certificates issued in 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; the number of certificates issued in each respective category for 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31429/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters such as the issuing of Police Certificates. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that Police Certificates are issued by Garda Superintendents responsible for the District where the applicant resides or has previously resided.
Police Certificates are issued for the following purposes;
1. Foreign Consular Authorities / Foreign Visas (e.g. applications, naturalisation and/or other immigration matters).
2. Establishing or registering a Business in another EU Member State.
3. Employment in the EU Institutions.
4. Development/Humanitarian/Aid Workers deployed Overseas on behalf of a Registered Non-Governmental Organisation with supporting documentation issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and/or any other Statutory Agency related to the activity concerned.
5. Irish Citizens participating and/or engaging in an accredited academic programme on a full time basis for a minimum period of one academic year with a recognised Third Level Educational Institution (in the Host State) outside of this jurisdiction.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the figures requested by the Deputy are not maintained nationally in the format requested and that to compile this information would involve a disproportionate expenditure of Garda resources.
425. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice if she will examine an application for citizenship by a person (details supplied). [31449/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has unfortunately resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
In 2021, my Department issued 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest number of decisions made since 2015, and reflects positively the significant changes undertaken to date.
It is open to the applicant to contact the Citizenship Division of my Department at citizenshipinfo@justice.ie for an update on their application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
426. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if she will help in addressing the shortage of carers for elderly persons available in the State by allowing non-European Union workers of private care companies to work for 40-hours per week similar to non-European Union workers who work directly for the HSE and nursing homes rather than the current 20-hours per week permitted under their student work visas (details supplied). [31463/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral stakeholders, in this area.
A student's primary purpose for being in the State is to study. All applicants for permission to study in Ireland must show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
However, since April 2001, non-EEA students with an immigration Stamp 2 permission, and who are enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work.
This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.
The conditions attaching to all immigration permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department with all relevant stakeholders. Any changes to the work entitlements of non-EEA students would be a policy decision for the wider stakeholder group.
Any non-EEA national who is on a stamp 1 or stamp 4 permission with an entitlement to work is not limited in the hours that they can work per week. It is open to any person to seek to change their immigration permission if they are eligible to do so and if they meet the criteria attaching to the new immigration permission.
Employment permits and the conditions attaching to them are a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Further details can be found on that Department's website at: www.enterprise.gov.ie.
427. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she has discussed with the Garda Commissioner the option of setting up a specific Garda taskforce to tackle the recent incidents of homophobic hate crimes across Ireland and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31484/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. In recent months we have seen vicious crimes take place. These types of attacks cannot, and will not, be tolerated.
We live in a diverse and welcoming country and our laws and values should reflect this. I will shortly, subject to Government approval, publish the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill which will legislate against hate crime and hate speech and help to ensure that Ireland is safe, fair and inclusive for all.
The Bill will strengthen the law around hate crime by creating new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences, where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic.
The protected characteristics under the Hate Crime Bill include sexual orientation and gender.
Aggravated offences will generally carry an enhanced penalty and the record of any conviction for such an offence would clearly state that the offence was a hate crime.
In relation to setting up a specific Garda taskforce, as the deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
The Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) forms part of the Garda Community Relations Bureau and has a very positive working relationship with minority communities in Ireland.
The Garda Diversity and Integration Strategy is externally focused on An Garda Síochána’s relations with the communities that it serves, delivering on the obligations on An Garda Síochána in relation to human rights and equality under Irish, EU law and international conventions.
Under the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy, An Garda Síochána are working to significantly increase reporting of hate crimes to An Garda Síochána by members of the LGBTI+ community owing to the more open relationship that has been developed.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has implemented a number of specific operations in Dublin City aimed at addressing anti-social activity. The operations involve increased uniform and plain clothes proactive patrolling of the city, with a particular emphasis on the city centre.
Operation Citizen, established in November 2021, is a co-ordinated approach involving Gardaí from both Dublin Metropolitan Region South Central and North Central with an emphasis on providing high-visibility policing in the city centre to provide reassurance to the public and proactively tackle incidents of anti-social behaviour.
I am further informed that, as part of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing national response to hate crime, the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) provides assurance to members of the public in relation to reports of hate-based occurrences. This includes daily monitoring of all recorded hate crimes / incidents on PULSE and social media, advising investigating members, supporting investigations and providing assurance to victims and their communities.
A new, non-emergency online hate crime reporting mechanism was launched by An Garda Síochána in July 2021 to improve accessibility to the Garda service for victims of all types of Hate Crime. It is available via the garda.ie website and provides a safe and secure environment for victims, who may previously have been reluctant to report in person to An Garda Síochána.
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if an urgent review of a residency card can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. This application was examined in detail and a decision was made to uphold the decision to refuse their EU Treaty Rights application on 27 April 2022. Reasons for the refusal are outlined in the refusal letter.
As this person's EU Treaty Rights application is now closed this case has now be forwarded to the Repatriation Unit of my Department for further processing. The Repatriation Unit will be in contact with the person concerned in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if an urgent review of their residency card can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31633/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. This application was examined in detail and a decision was made to uphold the decision to refuse their EU Treaty Rights application on 27 April 2022. Reasons for the refusal are outlined in the refusal letter.
As this person's EU Treaty Rights application is now closed this case has now be forwarded to the Repatriation Unit of my Department for further processing. The Repatriation Unit will be in contact with the person concerned in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
430. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if an urgent review of a residency card can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31634/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. This application was examined in detail and a decision was made to uphold the decision to refuse their EU Treaty Rights application on 27 April 2022. Reasons for the refusal are outlined in the refusal letter.
As this person's EU Treaty Rights application is now closed this case has now be forwarded to the Repatriation Unit of my Department for further processing. The Repatriation Unit will be in contact with the person concerned in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if an urgent review of a residency card can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31635/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. This application was examined in detail and a decision was made to uphold the decision to refuse their EU Treaty Rights application on 27 April 2022. Reasons for the refusal are outlined in the refusal letter.
As this person's EU Treaty Rights application is now closed this case has now be forwarded to the Repatriation Unit of my Department for further processing. The Repatriation Unit will be in contact with the person concerned in due course.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
