Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the difficulties I am experiencing, on behalf of my constituents, with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS. The service is described on its website as a one-stop-shop but appears to be a shop that never opens. For several months now, those contacting the INIS by telephone have been met with the message "We are sorry but due to the pressure of work, we cannot talk to you" or words to that effect. As with other colleagues, I am frustrated by the lack of engagement from the office.

It is unfair for the State to establish channels of communication which deliberately lead a person nowhere. This is a throwback to the days when bureaucracy considered people pursuing their natural right to information fair game and deliberately set out to frustrate them. Thankfully, in the interests of democracy, we have come a long way in recent years to correct unfair bureaucratic practices. Freedom of information is important because it aims to make government open, transparent and accountable. The Freedom of Information Act is based on the premise that people have the right of access to public documents save for certain exemptions on the grounds of national security.

I am not making a far-reaching request which will create substantial costs, nor is the information I seek an international secret or rocket science. All I seek is fair play for those who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in lonely circumstances in a foreign country and turn to public representatives for help. It is incredible that Members of the national Parliament are unable to make contact with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, an agency which has power over the destiny of constituents who seek basic information about the status of their applications for citizenship, asylum or refugee status. There is no place in modern Ireland for retaining a legacy of bureaucratic elitism in any part of the public service. I appeal to the Minister for Justice and Equality to immediately stop the unfair and obstructive practice in which the INIS office is engaged.

As an agency that interfaces directly with members of the public, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service should convey an image of a friendly, helpful and caring nation. When one telephones bodies such as the ESB, Bord Gáis or local authorities one is sent around all sorts of places and must call all sorts of numbers. It is especially important that we are able to speak to a human voice when dealing with applications for citizenship, asylum and refugee status.

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