Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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455. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish residency applications under the domestic violence concession for non-European Economic Area spouses and partners of Irish and non-EEA legal residents under various headings (details supplied) received in the past three years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45450/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has put in place Victims of Domestic Violence Immigration Guidelines. The Guidelines rightly state that no one should have to suffer domestic violence and recognise that migrants may have additional vulnerability in this area, as the perpetrator may threaten a victim with the loss of their status if they report the abuse.  

I would urge anyone in this situation to approach my Department for advice and assistance and I can assure any victim of abuse that they will be supported and protected.  Anyone who is the victim of domestic abuse and whose permission to be in the State is linked to their partner, will have the issue of their status dealt with sensitively by the immigration authorities and each case will be assessed on an individual basis.

I would also encourage anyone who has been a victim of domestic violence to reach out for help as soon as it is safe to do so. The Still Here Campaign website, has a full list of support services that are available to victims of domestic violence.

Female victims can contact the Women’s Aid Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900. Their Telephone Interpretation Service facility covers 170 languages for callers needing support in their own language. Interpreters are available on the Language Line from 8am–8pm, 7 days a week. They can provide information on support services throughout Ireland. Further information on that service can be found at: 

https://www.womensaid.ie/services/helpline/telephoneinterp.html. 

Male victims of domestic violence can contact the male domestic violence advice line on 1800 816 588.

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, I recently published, ‘Zero Tolerance - The Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence’ (DSGBV).The Strategy is ambitious and far-reaching and has been developed with those working in the sector, and on the frontline with victims, to ensure it is informed by lived experience. The goal of the Strategy is clear: zero tolerance in Irish society for any form of domestic violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it. It will be backed by €363 million in funding to support its delivery.

Later this year, my Department, with the support of the Dormant Accounts fund, will be rolling out awareness raising measures to reach people within marginalised communities in Ireland to inform them of the rights they have under the Victims of Crime Act 2017 and of the Victims Charter. In order to achieve this, my Department will work with various community organisations to adapt various assets and resources for victims of crime in culturally specific ways.

I have provided in the table below the data requested by the Deputy.  However, prior to 2021, data was not held in a manner that would provide the data requested and for reasons of confidentiality the nationality and the current address of victims is not disclosed.

*former EUTR and no longer beneficiaries of the regulations. 

The EUTR regulations have their own specific provision for victims of domestic violence and due to the manner of how cases are recorded the data cannot be provided. 

Where an application is submitted pursuant to the Victim of Domestic Violence Guidelines, it is ordinarily dealt within one working day; however, if further documentation is required, this will affect the processing time. 

Finally, one of the standard conditions of an immigration permission granted in the State, is that the holder must be of good character. Engaging in domestic violence would not be in line with this condition and could lead to the revocation or non-renewal of the perpetrator’s own immigration status.