Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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98. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a visa for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22325/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing times referred to relate to a separate type of visa application which is to join a family member who is a citizen of or registered to reside in Ireland. The particular application referred to by the Deputy is however one made under the terms of 2004/38/EC Directive (Free Movement) on the rights of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of Member States.

While every effort generally is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of applications, their complexity, the possible need to investigate, enquire into, or seek further information in relation to certain applications, and the resources available. In this particular case, I am informed that a decision will be made in the coming days and will issue from the Irish Embassy in Kampala.

The Deputy may wish to note that 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. In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).