Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 254: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when temporary travel documentation will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40734/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person concerned had a recent application for an Irish temporary travel document refused. She was advised to contact her own consular authorities to establish the procedures to be followed which would allow for her to procure a national passport whilst resident in this State. She currently has permission to remain in the State until 21 April, 2012.

In exceptional cases an application for an Irish temporary travel document may be considered in respect of qualifying non Irish nationals who are resident in Ireland. In all such cases, the INIS must be satisfied that there is no alternative open to the applicant before an Irish temporary travel document will issue. The person concerned has to show that they have made reasonable and formal efforts to obtain a national passport, that it has been formally and unreasonably refused and that their own consular authorities are unable to offer consular assistance to them whilst resident in the State.

It is open to the person in question to submit a new application for a temporary travel document accompanied by the relevant supporting documentation to the Travel Document Unit of the INIS which is located at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Full information in this regard and the applicable application form is available at www.inis.gov.ie.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility 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 from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.