Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 682: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the countries in which his Department has outsourced the processing of Irish visas to private companies; the names of the private companies used; if he has satisfied himself that adequate procedures are in place to ensure confidentiality and safeguard against abuse of personal information by these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1067/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In India, other than the consular jurisdictions of Mumbai and Bangalore, the embassy has an arrangement with an outsourcing company, Visa Facilitation Services, VFS, for initial receipt and checking of visa applications. VFS receives most of the visa applications which are handled by the embassy and ensures the forms are properly completed, the documentation complete and the correct fees paid. The company has no role in verifying the bona fides of applications or deciding on same; it merely acts as an initial checking and sorting point and transmitter of applications to the embassy, which retains full responsibility and delegated authority in verification and decision. The embassy ensures that adequate and appropriate procedures are followed in confidentiality and use of personal information.

In India, VFS is also used by the US Consulate General, Dubai Immigration, the British High Commission, the Australian Embassy, the Embassy of Italy and the Embassy of France.

There are no outsourcing arrangements in any other country.