Vol. 520 No. 3
24 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers who have withdrawn their asylum applications and are now claiming right of residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/00]
My Department receives applications for permission to remain from persons who are current or former asylum applicants on three main grounds: as the parent of an Irish born child, an Irish citizen, as the spouse of an Irish national and as the spouse of an EEA national who is residing in Ireland. Many, but not all, of the persons in question withdraw their applications for asylum, either at the time of applying for permission to remain or following the granting of permission.
During the period January 1999 to April 2000 permission to remain was granted to 1,413 current or former asylum applicants on the basis of their parentage of an Irish born child. There are 513 such applications on hands.
During the same period permission to remain was granted to 123 current or former asylum applicants on the basis of their marriage to an Irish national and to 201 such persons on the basis of their marriage to an EEA national residing in Ireland. There are, respectively, 68 and 153 of these applications on hands at present.
