Thursday, 26 Jan 2023

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (283)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

283. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice the steps An Garda Síochána is taking to address the issue of bike theft in Dublin as highlighted by a recent RTÉ piece (details supplied). [3802/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised that An Garda Síochána makes crime prevention advice publicly available through the national Crime Prevention Officer's network, the Garda website and social media channels.

This includes details of the 'Lock it or Lose it' campaign. The campaign highlights basic theft prevention measures, such as spending 10 - 20% of the value of a bicycle on two locks and locking the bicycle to a secure, immovable object. Garda advice is that you should lock your bike in public areas where CCTV cameras are operating. You should also make sure to keep the lock away from the ground, as criminals can use the ground for leverage to break it open.

The most crucial advice to reiterate is to record the serial number of the bicycle so that it can be returned to the owner in the event it is stolen.

For the Deputy's information, An Garda Síochána have launched a free property recording app which offers the facility to record the unique information associated with a person's property. Should items be stolen, the app also provides a way of reporting this to An Garda Síochána and gives the user the option to share information with Gardaí for this purpose.

The app allows you to take a photo of your property and you can enter the associated information:

- Name

- Description

- Value in euro/€

- Category

- Property type

- Make

- Model

- Serial Number

An Garda Síochána also provide, in collaboration with Property Marking Ireland, a property marking program.

The program involves marking property with the owner’s eircode number, which is a unique identifier. The mark that is made on the property is a physical mark which is etched into the property. It is very difficult to remove and can be repeated a number of times on the one item. The mark is made by a specially-designed machine which embosses the property item with small dots in the pattern of the owner's eircode.

I would encourage anyone who witnesses a crime to report this to An Garda Síochána. I would also encourage people to use a reputable dealer when looking to purchase a bike, e-bike or e-scooter.

Visa Applications

Ceisteanna (284)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

284. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice if a visa application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3815/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I am pleased to inform you that the application referred to by the Deputy was granted on 22 January 2023 and the visa sticker was issued on the same day.

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.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (285)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

285. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied) for a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3882/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It 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.

Applications are processed in chronological order by date received. Due to the high volume of applications currently on hand, regrettably, the median time for processing applications is 19 months.

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.

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.

An Garda Síochána

Ceisteanna (286)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

286. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents in which a person was arrested by a member of An Garda Síochána who had apprehended the suspect having pursued them on foot in each of the years 2019 to 2022, in tabular form. [3894/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions.

I made enquiries with the Garda authorities who have advised that the information requested cannot be extracted from the PULSE system as there is no specific data field on PULSE to capture this information. As such, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the specific information requested.

Residency Permits

Ceisteanna (287)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to date in determination of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3922/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. They made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked. This will be considered as soon as possible.

All applications are examined on a case by case basis, on the documentation supplied and as provided for under Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The decision will be that the existing Deportation Order will be either ‘affirmed’ or ‘revoked’.

As the person is subject to a Deportation Order, they remain legally obliged to comply with any reporting obligations placed on them by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) during this time.

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.

Visa Applications

Ceisteanna (288)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the refusal of visa applications in the case of persons (details supplied); the process to be followed to appeal same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3925/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. Refusal letters issued to the applicants on the 24 January 2023 set out the reasons for these decisions. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.

It is open to the applicants to appeal these decisions, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.

All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the immigration website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance. Further details on the appeals process can be found at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/appeal-a-negative-decision/

When making an appeal, the applicants should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letters. The appeals should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh. Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicants, however the onus is on the applicants to satisfy the Visa Officer that visas should be granted.

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (289)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3763/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Service Executive

Ceisteanna (290)

James Lawless

Ceist:

290. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3764/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Ceisteanna (291)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

291. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a device for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3765/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the distribution of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Care Services

Ceisteanna (292)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

292. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of full-time residential care for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3773/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the question raised relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures