Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Residency Applications.

Liz McManus

Question:

413 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the substantial delays in granting residency of an Irish born child and in advance of his stated intention to introduce new legislation to review the automatic right of residency on the basis of an Irish born child, he will clarify the Government's policy on persons awaiting a response to their residency applications; and the provisions, if any, which are in force to uphold the rights of the family arising from the Fajujono Supreme Court ruling in relation to these persons awaiting a response on their residency. [16314/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

My Department currently has on hands a large number of applications from persons seeking permission to remain in the State on the basis of being the parent of an Irish-born child. A review is being carried out in order to determine what approach should be taken to processing these and future similar cases, having regard to the terms of the Supreme Court judgment in the Fajujonu case. I expect this review to be completed in the near future and that decisions on the applications will begin to issue shortly thereafter.