Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 May 2000

Vol. 520 No. 1

Written Answers. - Visa Applications.

Bernard Allen

Question:

108 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 10 May 2000, he will have investigations carried out and a review of procedures to be followed in the Irish embassy in Beijing as a result of a situation where an application (details supplied) for a visa was received in the embassy by registered post on 27 September 1999 and was subsequently misplaced on receipt resulting in worry, anxiety and expense being caused to the family as a result of the Chinese passport going missing and the possible serious consequences for the person involved; if he will give a detailed explanation on the way in which this occurred; and the steps he will take to avoid a recurrence. [14965/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

As I explained to the Deputy in my reply of 10 May, because of an administrative error this application was misplaced after it was received in the embassy and was not registered in the embassy's books. The application was located following a search earlier this month.

Because of a rapid increase in the numbers of applications from Chinese citizens for visas to travel to Ireland, the procedures in place for receiving and processing visa applications in the embassy have recently been reviewed. In addition, the embassy has deployed a recently engaged member of the local staff to work as a full-time assistant to the visa officer.

I am confident that these measures, along with the anticipated construction of a purpose built visa office in the embassy compound, which, with the co-operation of the Chinese authorities, I hope, will be completed before the end of this year, will help to avoid a recurrence of this unfortunate incident in the future.

I appreciate that the long delay and the apparent loss of the passport caused much distress to the lady concerned and to her family. I am very sorry for what happened.