Mr. Michael Kirrane:

I will call on colleagues, as necessary, to give the details in answering some of the Deputy's questions.

There is no policy to issue a stalling letter, or an interim letter, to delay the processing of visas. That is not part of the system. I will explain how visa regimes are organised worldwide. A lot of the processing of more complex cases is carried out by the INIS in Dublin, but there are seven INIS-staffed offices located in various parts of the world which deal with bigger volumes of applications.

They are in New Delhi, Beijing, Moscow, Ankara, London, Abu Dhabi and Abuja, Nigeria. They are controlled by the INIS. Other visa applications are processed by local embassies under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which sometimes experience pressure in so doing. Visas applications from Thailand, to which Deputy Colm Brophy referred, are processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The INIS is considering that system model as part of the reform package referred to by Mr. Ward. We have established a group with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to fundamentally consider our method of processing visa applications, whether it should be more centralised and what resources would be needed to cater for the anticipated increased demand. Such reforms would include streamlining processes, where possible, including increased automation of online applications and payments. Although the initial application is made online, we wish for as much of the process as possible to be completed online.

It is very difficult to address individual cases which involve a perceived difference between one year and another. It may sometimes happen for reasons outside our control. We carry out a series of checks with the Garda and our colleagues in the United Kingdom and occasionally encounter negative immigration histories or a delay in the processing of the request. Some stages of the process are not directly within our control and can cause delays or give the impression that there are different results for similar applications. It is impossible to ascertain the reasons for certain decisions without knowing the details of the individual cases, but I am happy to discuss further such cases with the Deputy.