Results 1-20 of 3,112 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Seanad: Migration: Motion (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. This is an area, obviously, where a debate can be fought and major issues can develop very quickly into very fraught conversations. I welcome, therefore, the tone and conversation we have had today. Before I go any further, I acknowledge what happens when debates are not like this but, rather, become very heated and spill into the real...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can inform the Deputy that spouses and de-facto partners of non-EU PhD students are registered on a Stamp 2A immigration permission where they are residing in the State as a dependent of a non-EEA national PhD student on Stamp 2 conditions. It is open to such people to apply for an Employment Permit in their own right if they wish to work in Ireland. Matters relating to employment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: The naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can advise the Deputy that the visa appeals cited were received on 03 May 2024, and continue to be processed by my Department. Visa appeals are processed in the seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. I can assure the Deputy that while processing times can vary across the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198 and 199 together. I can advise the Deputy that international students from outside the EU/EEA are granted a permission on Stamp 2 conditions where they have enrolled on, and commenced a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Stamp 2 permissions issued by nationality and year - 2021 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (19 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200, 201 and 202 together. In order for a non-EEA national student to register for a stamp 2 permission they must enrol and commence a course of study from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Education providers were required to have met certain standards and requirements to have their programmes included on the ILEP and be accredited by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 757 together. Under Article 2, the Temporary Protection Directive applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia : a) Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; b) Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: On 15 July 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council extended Temporary Protection by a year until March 2027, providing certainty for beneficiaries who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides. Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1460, dated 15 July 2025, directs that a person cannot be granted Temporary Protection if they already have Temporary Protection in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: The naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can advise the Deputy that a Stamp 3 immigration permission is granted to dependent children of Employment Permit holders, people in the state as Ministers of Religion and volunteers working with charitable organisations. A Stamp 3 immigration permission does not prevent the holder from engaging in study, however, they do not have the same rights to work as students on a Stamp 2...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can advise the Deputy that in cases where incomplete naturalisation applications are received, the application is returned to the applicant with a request to provide the missing documentation within 28 days. A reminder is issued after 18 days if the required documentation has still not been provided. The naturalisation application cited was returned to the person concerned as it was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can inform the Deputy that the error cited has been rectified and that the person concerned can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10-15 working days. As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the next Citizenship ceremonies are taking place on 1 and 2 December 2025 at the INEC Killarney, and invitations to successful applicants are in the process of being issued.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I understand that the Deputy has been in contact with my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service regarding the applicants cited and a status update was recently provided. These applications continue to be processed by my Department. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some international checks can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together. I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK. The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa Desk” to process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (18 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840 and 841 together. The Integration Fund supports communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants, with a specific focus on people seeking international protection. Funding is made available to organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will start by acknowledging and thanking the Deputy for the amount of work he has done and his dedication on this particular topic. I agree the issues merit the attention and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, is fully committed to building on the work already being undertaken to tackle the issue. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead responsibility within Government...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy. I know this is something he has been very much involved in and is very passionate on. I appreciate his remarks. I reiterate that since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in respect of wandering and malnourished horses in urban areas of Limerick. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for all policy and legislation in relation to the Control of Horses Act 1996. Operation of the Act comes under the remit of the local authorities though. Any reports of welfare issues received by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (13 Nov 2025)

Colm Brophy: I will state part of my original answer again, in that the URDF support for the Cork city library project demonstrates this Government's understanding and the critical important part of it in the regeneration of the Grand Parade quarter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to engage with Cork City Council on delivery in that context. The Department looks...