Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 2

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

173 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers who were the parents of Irish born children in each of the years from 1996 to 1998; the number of asylum seekers who applied for residency in Ireland on the basis of this parentage in each of those years; the number of these applicants who were granted a right to residency; the practice of his Department in relation to this issue; if his Department's policy on this issue has changed in recent years; if so, the basis on which this change was implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3747/99]

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

Between 1996 and October 1997 my Department received and granted 472 applications from asylum seekers for permission to remain on the basis of being the parent of an Irish-born child.

Since that date my Department has received 665 such applications – including applications from persons other than asylum seekers and persons who withdrew their asylum claim upon applying for residency. These cases are under consideration at present and I hope to be able to make decisions on them early this year.

Issues relating to the principles which govern a right of residency in the State in certain cases were dealt with in a Supreme Court judgment some time ago. My Department in consultation with the Attorney General's Office has been considering the implications of that judgment in terms of appropriate practice in this regard.