Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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598. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for a de facto visa by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30569/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was refused permission to remain in the State, on the basis of their De Facto relationship with an Irish national, on 9 June 2015.

In accordance with the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification dated 31 December 2013, where an application is refused, the applicant may appeal to INIS. An appeal will be considered by a different officer and, where possible, one who is more senior than the original decision maker.

The officer determining the appeal may:

- confirm the decision, or

- confirm the decision and impose conditions or amended conditions, or

- set aside the decision and substitute his or her determination of the application

An appeal of the decision to refuse the De Facto Relationship Immigration Permission application was received by INIS for consideration on 21 July 2015, which is being dealt with in chronological order of receipt. It is expected that the appeal will be processed 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 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.