Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of travel documents for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26644/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a person who has been granted permission to remain in the State, and who does not possess or cannot obtain a national passport, may submit an application for a travel document, which will be examined on its merits. Unlike a refugee, a person with non-protection permission to remain does not have an entitlement to be issued with a travel document, and such a document would be issued solely on a discretionary basis. Applications are examined on a case by case basis.

It appears that information has been proffered to the Deputy which was not made available to INIS at the time this person’s application for a discretionary document was being considered. The deputy may wish to note that the refusal issued on this application extends to that application only. The applicant is free to apply for a travel document again, and any future application will be examined on its merits. In any future application, the person would be advised to submit information on the rescinding of his or her refugee status by the relevant authorities, and provide any relevant residence permission letters issued by this Department, as required by the travel document application form.

More generally, queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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 the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.