Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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486. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current and or expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3140/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to by the Deputy was the subject of a transfer decision to Belgium under the EU Dublin III Regulation. This transfer order was effected on 22 January 2022.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Dublin III Regulation determines which EU Member State is responsible for examining international protection applications of non-EEA nationals. It is based on the principle that the first Member State to facilitate entry into the EU, is responsible for examining an application for international protection.

The objective of the Dublin Regulation is to ensure quick access to asylum procedures. Since March 2020, 11 applicants for international protection have been transferred to other EU Member States in order to expedite their application for protection.

Transfers to other EU Member States, in line with the Dublin III Regulations, continue to operate within the COVID-19 public health guidelines.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.