Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is a facility for a Filipino citizen applying for a visa to deal with a named official in his Department here rather than having to liaise with officials from the consulate in Manila; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40799/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland has no Embassy in the Philippines and no Irish officials working there. The Embassy of Ireland to Singapore is currently accredited on a non-residential basis to the Philippines. You will be aware, however, that the Government announced in June this year the opening of a new Embassy in the Philippines as part Global Ireland 2025. The new mission will be operational by the end of 2020. At present, visa services in the Philippines are provided by our Honorary Consul in Manila. The consulate in Manila accepts applications for decision either by our Embassy in Singapore or the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, a non-statutory agency of the Department of Justice and Equality. It is the policy of the Government that applicants resident in the Philippines submit their application for a visa through the consulate in Manila. Any person who has concerns about the services provided by an Irish Embassy or Consulate overseas can bring the matter to the attention of the Corporate Services Division of my department.