Written Answers Nos. 1303-1326
1303. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the status of applications under the regularisation scheme for the long-term undocumented by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20741/22]
View answerBased on the information supplied by the Deputy, it has unfortunately not been possible to locate the application for the persons referred to.
More generally, in relation to the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme, as of 24 April 2022, my Department has received 4068 applications in respect of 5294 applicants and 148 positive decisions have been issued, with more to follow on an ongoing basis.
Under the international protection strand of the Scheme, 1,446 applications have been received and 130 positive decisions have issued, as of 15 April 2022.
Every application received will be assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf and at: www.ipo.gov.ie.
Applications are processed in chronological order based on the date received and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the individual application.
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 at 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 Question process. The Minister may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Minister's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1304. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Ireland since the conflict began up to 14 April 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20757/22]
View answerAs of 14 April 2022, a total of 23,205 people had arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and my Department had issued approximately 20,950 temporary protection permission letters.
There is a coordinated whole-of-Government response to support people arriving in Ireland who have fled the violence in Ukraine. Government Departments and services are working together to implement Ireland's commitments under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC), which has been activated for the first time to grant temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine.
My Department is primarily responsible for issuing temporary protection documents to those who are eligible. Those granted Temporary Protection have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as needed.
Beneficiaries are being provided with their permission letter on arrival at Dublin Airport in the 'one-stop-shop' established by my Department for that purpose, to ensure early access to all necessary supports. Arrangements have also been put in place to provide permission letters to those who arrived at Dublin Airport prior to 9 March (when permission letters started to issue) and to those who have arrived at other ports of entry to the State. Officials from my Department are on site to process temporary protection permission letters at Rosslare Europort on sailing days and in the Ukraine Support Centres established in Cork Street, Dublin 8 and in Limerick City.
I can assure the Deputy that my Government colleagues and I will continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.
1305. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if she has engaged with publicans regarding their concerns over the upcoming reform of licensing laws; if she has heard and addressed their concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20824/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to modernising our licensing laws and application processes, and my Justice Plan 2022 commits to publishing and enacting new laws to update and modernise licensing laws.
I am delivering on that commitment by preparing Heads of a General Scheme of a Sale of Alcohol Bill.
The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018, the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and the Public Dance Hall Act 1935, and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century.
Codifying alcohol licensing law into a single Act will make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, courts, Gardaí and the public.
The development of this Bill will take account of concerns on a wide range of issues, including public health, public order and the interests of consumers, communities and businesses.
Last November, I launched a wide-ranging consultation to seek the views of the public on the modernisation of Ireland’s licensing laws. The consultation, which ran until 21 January this year, looked at how best to update the existing laws governing the sale and regulation of alcohol in Ireland. Members of the public, academics, sectoral groups, and representative organisations were invited to complete an online survey and/or make a written submission to my Department.
There was a high level of response to the consultation, with in excess of 5,000 responses received. My Department is now reviewing these responses to ensure the reform of the legislation takes account of and is informed by this engagement.
You may also be interested to know, that on 10 March, I hosted a consultation webinar on the reform of the alcohol licensing laws to give an opportunity for further discussion of the issues of concern to stakeholders. Representatives of VFI (Vintners Federation of Ireland) and the LVA (Licensed Vintners Association) took part in a panel discussion at this event.
That webinar can be viewed on my Department’s YouTube channel via the following link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tMtKzd_9jA.
It is intended to progress this legislation in the months ahead with a view to enacting it this year. Details of the proposed reform will be included in the General Scheme when published.
1306. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline of her Department’s plan to publish a general scheme of a Bill on cybercrime to meet Ireland’s commitment to ratifying the Council of Europe Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. [20876/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I have recently published Justice Plan 2022, which sets out 159 actions to continue building a justice system that works for everyone. Action 22 of the Justice Plan refers to the publication of the General Scheme of a Bill to update certain provisions linked to the Budapest Convention on cybercrime, as well as specific access to data requests (if not dealt with in the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill). The Justice Plan commits to delivering this action in Q2 of 2022.
Cooperation with our EU and international partners remains a key part of Ireland's response to cybercrime. Ireland is committed to ratifying the Council of Europe Budapest Convention on Cybercrime when the necessary legislative requirements have been fulfilled. In this regard, the Deputy may wish to note that the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017 already provides a comprehensive legal framework for the prosecution of cybercrime offences.
As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the detection of and response to any criminal activity, including cybercrime, is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
1307. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to residency for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20976/22]
View answerI recognise the difficulties that Covid-19 has had on everyone in the country, including our international student population.
From the outset of the pandemic, my Department and I have worked to provide assistance and assurance to people who use our immigration services. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, nine temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions have been provided to 31 May 2022. These extensions were available to the person referred to by the Deputy and would have allowed them to remain in the State until 31 May 2022, if they had chosen to do so.
My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students, who are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission, and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectorial stakeholders, in this area.
Since April 2001, non-EEA students with an immigration Stamp 2 permission, and who are enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) including English language courses, have been afforded the opportunity to work. This allows them to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time, non-EEA students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods they can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.
The Stamp 2 permission will typical expire shortly after the conclusion of the course. If a person wishes to remain in the State and to be allowed to work, they will then need to have a prospective employer apply for an employment permit on their behalf and to seek a change of permission to a Stamp 1G, if they met the criteria. If unsuccessful, the student is required to leave the State.
A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme. When an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may qualify for a Stamp 1G for 12 months. Where an individual receives an award at Level 9 NFQ, they may qualify for a Stamp 1G for up to 24 months subject to the overall limit of 8 years on student conditions that applies. Graduates at level 9 NFQ or above who qualify for a Stamp 1G permission will be granted the permission for 12 months initially, further details are available on my Department's website at www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/.
A person must hold a critical skills employment permit for 2 years or a general employment permit for 5 years before eligibility for a Stamp 4 immigration permission arises.
1308. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice if the possibility of establishing a dedicated unit in An Garda Síochána to tackle violence, intimidation and anti-social behaviour on public transport has been advanced and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21031/22]
View answerThe resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of in excess of €2 billion in Budget 2022. This allocation provides for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and 400 Garda staff. I note the strong interest in a career as a Garda member in the recent Garda recruitment campaign, with over 10,000 applications received.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. Under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Commissioner determines the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to seek to direct the Commissioner in such matters, as establishing a unit of An Garda Síochána for any purpose.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of Garda members throughout the State under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure An Garda Síochána is optimally positioned to keep our communities safe.
I am advised that An Garda Síochána do not propose to establish a dedicated transport policing unit at this time.
I can however inform the Deputy that Garda management engages extensively with transport operators, including the National Transport Authority, Irish Rail (DART and InterCity rail) and Transdev Ireland (Luas) to provide a high visibility presence through a co-ordinated approach.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a range of regional and local operations have been put in place to prevent and detect criminal activity and anti-social behaviour on public transport. For example, Operation Twin Track was a Community Engagement and Rail Safety Policing Initiative conducted by Gardaí in partnership with other public transportation stakeholders with the purpose of providing high visibility policing of rail and light rail transport within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and nationwide, and to deliver crime prevention advice.
A multi-agency review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of this operation and it was agreed that An Garda Síochána will continue to proactively engage with public transportation stakeholders and providers to conduct further similar operations.
For the Deputy's information, in January 2022, to further support, enhance and strengthen the strategic and operational objectives of Operation Citizen in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR). Assistant Commissioner, DMR launched Operation Saul to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising public transport services in the DMR together with reassuring the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy all its amenities.
Operation Saul currently operates in DMR South Central, North Central & South Divisions, however, plans are ongoing to extend this operation to the entire DMR Region.
The aim of Operational Saul is to co-ordinate and manage all working resources in each Division to deliver both an overt and covert policing presence around the environs of Luas, DART and Bus services in Dublin, on a regular and, where necessary, daily basis. I am advised that this will be achieved through the following measures;
- Allocating overt beat personnel to Luas, DART and Bus services to perform high visibility patrols to prevent and detect anti-social behaviour and public order offences.
- Reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour while dealing proactively and professionally with any public order issues through a zero tolerance approach.
- Acting to prevent and detect crime, preserve the peace and minimise disruption to Luas, DART and Bus services.
- In partnership with partner agencies, An Garda Síochána deployed on duties under Operation Saul will achieve a common goal of making this service safe.
- Improve the quality of day to day life for local stakeholders, businesses and commuters of Luas, DART and Bus services.
- Issuing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) where appropriate.
- Issuing Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) in respect of certain offences, where detected and appropriate.
- Effecting arrests in appropriate circumstances.
- Record all patrols under Operation Saul with Superintendent, Communications Centre on CAD incident number.
Each Chief Superintendent in the DMR ensures regular collaboration under Operation Saul with partner agencies in order to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative. Central to the success of this initiative is maintaining a strong partnership with transport partner agencies. Quarterly, if not more regular, meetings are required to take place between appropriate members of An Garda Síochána in each Division in the DMR to examine any issues and review existing approaches and to inform partner agencies on upcoming plans, operations and advancements in the area of managing these issues in the public transport sphere.
1309. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the steps that she is taking in relation to homophobic assaults and violence. [21079/22]
View answerI strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice.
We live in a diverse and welcoming country and our law and values should reflect this. Work is ongoing as a priority to legislate for hate crime and hate speech, to ensure that Ireland is a safe and secure place for all.
A hate crime occurs where an offence is committed (for example assault or criminal damage), but where the victim is targeted because of their association, in the mind of the perpetrator, with a particular identity characteristic, e.g. sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Hate crimes are signal crimes. They tell the victim that they are not safe simply because of who they are. They send the disgusting message to victims that they, and people like them, are somehow lesser than the rest of us which is unacceptable.
These crimes are motivated by prejudice. They make victims feel afraid for their future, their friends and their families. They lead to a divided society, where whole communities can feel unsafe and angry. It’s important that we recognize the true harm of these crimes and ensure that our legislative framework can tackle them.
On 16 April 2021 I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021. Following its publication, the General Scheme was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, which took place on 17 November 2021.
I recently published Justice Plan 2022 and in it I have committed to advancing this work and to publishing the Hate Crime Bill in quarter 2 of this year.
The Bill will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences, where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic. The aggravated offences will generally carry an enhanced penalty, compared to the ordinary offence, and the record of any conviction for such an offence would clearly state that the offence was a hate crime.
It may also interest the Deputy to know that Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022 was published on 28 November 2019 and complements the National LGBTI Youth Strategy published in June 2018.
The Inclusion strategy was developed in partnership with the LGBTI+ Community through a number of consultations and workshops across the country. A Strategy Committee is in place to oversee implementation of the Inclusion Strategy. This Committee is chaired by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D.
The strategy contains a number of actions by An Garda Síochána to deepen the LGBTI+ awareness among frontline officers and increase the capacity of An Garda Síochána to respond to the needs of victims of hate crime and to have an improved understanding of the LGBTI+ community in general.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that as part of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing national response to Hate Crime, the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) provide assurance to members of the public in relation to reports of hate-based occurrences. This includes daily monitoring of all recorded Hate Crimes / Incidents on PULSE and Social Media, advising investigating members, supporting investigations and providing assurance to victims and their communities.
I am advised that in response to recent alleged homophobic incidents, the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit have provided direct on the ground support to investigators and to the LGBT+ community
A new, non-emergency Online Hate Crime reporting mechanism was launched in July 2021 to improve accessibility to the Garda service for victims of all types of Hate Crime. It is available via the garda.ie website and provides a safe and secure environment for victims, who may previously have been reluctant to report in person to An Garda Síochána.
To increase confidence and provide support and direction to Garda members in identifying, recording, investigating and prosecuting Hate Crime, a Policy Document - Responding to Hate Crime and Non-Crime Hate Incidents was developed and published in 2021. Additional procedures, aide memoire and information sheets have been provided to all Garda personnel and published on internal platforms.
A number of publicity campaigns have been held in support of the launch of the Online Hate Crime Reporting System, which included publicity and explanatory videos on garda.ie (script in 19 languages); and a Hate Crime information campaign with the publication and distribution of Hate Crime leaflets in 19 languages.
Internal communication platforms were utilised to run in conjunction with public campaigns. A further Hate Crime publicity campaign is planned for 2022.
Following a full independent review of the Garda Diversity Training in January 2020, a new organisational approach to training is in the final stages of development and will be delivered throughout 2022. The training programme will increase Garda confidence in dealing with reports of Hate Crime.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that Garda Diversity Officers (GDOs) are Gardaí and Sergeants, trained, developed and supported to actively engage with and attend to the concerns of minority, diverse and hard to reach communities - providing reassurance, building trust and extending the accessibility of the Garda Service.
There are currently 331 GDOs throughout the country in every Garda division, who are supported by a Divisional Diversity Inspector. An up-to-date list containing the locations and contact details of GDOs is published on the Garda website.
1310. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Justice her plans to improve legislation tackling gangland crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21100/22]
View answerTackling organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and an ongoing priority for An Garda Síochána.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters and the deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is currently being drafted and will provide, among other matters, for an increase in the penalty for conspiring to commit murder and soliciting to commit murder from a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
I consider a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be appropriate given the seriousness of the offences in question. The Deputy will appreciate that, ultimately, the Judiciary is best placed to decide on the appropriate sentence in any given case. The impact of all violent crime spreads far wider than the victims alone and it is vital that the powers available to the Judiciary are such as to provide an appropriate deterrent for conspiring to commit the most heinous crime of taking a person's life.
Work is continuing on the drafting of this Bill based on the General Scheme and further legal advices. Justice Plan 2022 commits to the publication of these provisions in the second quarter of this year.
The Justice Plan also commits to working to break the link between gangs and the children they seek to recruit. In 2022, we will progress draft legislation to outlaw the grooming of children into a life of crime. In parallel, we will continue to roll out a community intervention programme “Greentown” which seeks to break the link between children who are engaged or at risk of engaging with a criminal gang.
These new measures will build on legislative measures which have already been taken in recent years, such as:
- The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2016, which provides additional Garda powers for the immediate seizure of assets suspected of being the proceeds of crime to prevent them being disposed of;
- The Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014, providing for the establishment and operation of the DNA database providing Gardaí with links between people and unsolved crimes;
- The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, introduced to protect the justice system from being subverted by criminal groups, including potential intimidation of juries.
The Deputy may also be aware that An Garda Síochána strengthened its capacity to tackle organised crime in 2015, through the creation of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), which is headed by a Detective Chief Superintendent reporting to Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime. The role is to proactively, via intelligence led investigations, target top tier Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) impacting on this jurisdiction.
This is achieved through effective collaboration with all sections of Organised & Serious Crime, and other sections within An Garda Síochána, through partnerships with other law enforcement agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Naval Service, and partnerships developed with international law enforcement agencies globally.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that in 2021, the GNDOCB seized €63.689m in illicit drugs, and seized cash of €5.6m and £38,751 (UK). In addition, €8.23m and £142,520 (UK) was forfeited to the State in 2021.
I can further inform the Deputy that on 2 July 2021, An Garda Síochána commenced an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing throughout rural and urban Ireland. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.
The Deputy may wish to note that recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure of drugs valued at in excess of €388,000 following a search operation in Finglas on Wednesday 20th April 2022.
1311. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice her views on whether the Government needs to take additional measures regarding the Immigrant Investor Programme in response to the European Commission recommendation of 28 March 2022 on immediate steps in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in relation to investor citizenship schemes and investor residence schemes C 2022-2028 final; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21126/22]
View answerAs I have recently confirmed to the Deputy, I am aware of the European Parliament report referred to.
Prior to this report being launched, I had instructed that no further applications from Russian citizens will be accepted into the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). Since the Programme was introduced in 2012, there have only been three applications made by Russian nationals under the Programme and there are currently no Russian beneficiaries or applications to the scheme.
The IIP was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest. Over 1,400 applications have been successful under the IIP to date with the value of investments approved over €1bn.
The IIP is not a visa scheme or a citizenship scheme. It offers successful applicants a Stamp 4 Immigration permission for themselves and their immediate family members for an initial two year period and is renewed thereafter subject to the scheme’s criteria being met.
Therefore, given the significant immigration benefits accruing and to ensure the highest degree of transparency and accountability for the programme, all applications are subject to enhanced levels of due diligence processes in respect of both personal and financial checks to protect the State's interests.
All immigration schemes are kept under constant review, including in the context of developments and policy approaches at EU level.
1312. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that have been made to the Immigrant Investor Programme by Belarusian citizens in each of the years 2019 to 2022; the number of Belarusian citizens who had their application successfully approved under the programme in the same period, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21127/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that there were no applications submitted to the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) from Belarusian nationals in any of the requested years.
The IIP was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest.
Successful applicants under the programme and their nominated family members are granted a residence permission in Ireland under Stamp 4 conditions. Stamp 4 conditions permit non-EEA nationals to work, study or start their own businesses in Ireland. Therefore, given the significant immigration benefits accruing and to ensure the highest degree of transparency and accountability for the programme, all applications are subject to enhanced levels of due diligence processes in respect of both personal and financial checks to protect the State's interests.
1313. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that have been received under the Afghan admission programme; when it is expected that applicants will receive a notification of a decision on their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21150/22]
View answerThe Afghan Admission Programme closed for applications on 11 March 2022 and my Department received 528 applications in total. Officials in my Department are currently processing all applications and expect to issue decisions in the coming months.
The application form has been designed so that all applicants are treated fairly and equally in their applications. Applicants can be assured that my officials will correspond with them directly once a decision has been made on their application.
The Programme is unique across the EU and has enabled current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have their eligible close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to eligible territories bordering Afghanistan, to apply for temporary residence in Ireland. The eligible neighbouring countries are: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
1316. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if a piece of surveillance technology (details supplied) is being used by her Department or any agencies under her remit in view of the fact that there are security and privacy concerns associated with the use of same; the data-protection policies on the use of artificial intelligence with respect to instances in which this technology is being used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21239/22]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is available.
1317. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice when in-person citizenship ceremonies will recommence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21288/22]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that, subject to public health guidelines, I intend to host in-person citizenship ceremonies in June and December this year in Killarney.
Traditionally, citizenship applicants are required to attend an in-person citizenship ceremony to take an oath of fidelity to the State and complete the process to receive their certificate of naturalisation. Due to the pandemic, it has not been possible to hold such ceremonies since March 2020.
In January 2021, a temporary system was established to enable citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty to the State. This has temporarily replaced the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies.
In spite of the restrictions imposed by public health guidelines, last year, my Department made 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest level since 2015.
1318. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21294/22]
View answerThis application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has unfortunately resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing.
However, my Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.
In 2021, my Department issued 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest number of decisions made since 2015, and reflects positively the significant changes undertaken to date. Additional staff have also been assigned to the citizenship team.
It is open to the applicant to contact the citizenship division at citizenshipinfo@justice.ie at any time for an update on their application.
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 at: 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1319. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a date has been scheduled for surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19205/22]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1320. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of surgical mesh surgeries that have been performed in Ireland for reasons other than vaginal prolapse including but not limited to bowel surgery and hernia; the number of these surgeries that have resulted in complications from the mesh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19206/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timescale for implementation of the national clinical programme for neurology and the care transformation programme in respect of strategy and planning; the breakdown of funding for same; if the strategy will address the needs of children and young persons with paediatric Huntington’s disease and juvenile-onset Huntington’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19209/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the national dementia strategy will include operational details to address the needs of persons with Huntington’s disease; if the detailed plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19210/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to establish a diagnostic and aftercare pathway for persons with Huntington’s disease; his plans to recruit a co-ordinated multidisciplinary team to provide symptom management, care planning and anticipatory care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19211/22]
View answerAs this question relates to a service matter I have referred this question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1324. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with Huntington’s disease who were seen at memory assessment services and clinics in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the current waiting list for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19212/22]
View answerAs this issue relates to a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
1325. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken by the HSE and his Department to improve engagement with persons with Huntington’s disease, their families and support staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19213/22]
View answerAs this question relates to a service issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1326. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason some of the six CHO areas provide an electricity subsidy for patients using full-time oxygen ventilation machines while others do not; his views on whether this practice effectively amounts to a postcode lottery for those needing support with electricity costs, which have spiralled, and for whom a decision to scale back on electricity usage is not an option; if this subsidy will be made available for all those who require 24-hour oxygen ventilation regardless of the area in which they live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19223/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
