Madam, – Have the staff of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) travelled back in time? The contact telephone numbers given on the INIS website refer even urgent queries to be submitted and answered by post. Is this the latest industrial action by disgruntled civil servants, or is there some other explanation as to why INIS has abandoned the use of modern technologies?
With the characteristic lack of transparency in the immigration and citizenship processes of our country, INIS offers no justification for this inconvenience to applicants. Given a citizenship fee of almost €1,000, I would expect an operational helpline, and a service worthy of this amount.
Instead, the waiting period for decisions stands at 26 months, e-mails go unanswered, and only the bare minimum of information is imparted to applicants (who, by the way, also pay taxes for this service).
Our UK neighbours make decisions on British citizenship on average within six months of application. What are we doing wrong here? Whether it is is a work-to- rule, staff shortages, or an unwritten policy aimed at discouraging applicants from becoming citizens of our grand country, I do not know. I would however, like to be enlightened. (I am an Irish citizen currently residing in Mozambique). – Yours, etc,