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

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1235 of 18 September 2012, if any particular provision will be made whereby their residency status can be regularised by way of upgrading their position of through work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47096/12]

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

As previously outlined in my answer to Dail Question 1235 of 18 September 2012 the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) have not received an application from the person mentioned by the Deputy. The criteria for Students resident in the State remains as outlined in my previous response of 18 September 2012. While it is open to the person to apply for a work permit the decision to grant or refuse such an application is solely a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Information is available on www.djei.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.

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

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the residency or entitlement to naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47097/12]

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

The person concerned is a sibling of an Irish born child of non-EEA parents born in the State prior to 1 January, 2005. The person concerned was granted temporary permission to remain in the State on the basis of family dependency by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) on 14 November, 2007. This permission was renewed subsequently and is currently valid until 10 October, 2013.

I am advised by INIS that an application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in April, 2012. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that for a broad range of reasons some cases will take longer than others to process.

As well as being a significant event in the life of its recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

It is a statutory requirement that, inter alia, applicants for naturalisation be of good character. In some instances that can be established relatively quickly and in other cases completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time. I can, however, inform the Deputy that enormous progress has been made in dealing with the backlog and steps are being taken to process all outstanding applications and to have made significant inroads into them by the end of this year.

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.

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

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when an update of stamp 2 will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County KIldare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47098/12]

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

I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy entered the State on 19 May 2006 and registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) on the 23 June 2006. He had his permission to remain as a student renewed on an annual basis until 30 September 2012. The General Immigration Division of INIS are currently considering an application for further permission to remain from the person concerned. I am informed that the person is seeking further permission to remain in the State for reasons other than study. I expect a decision to issue in this case shortly.

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.