Vol. 540 No. 3
310 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which applications for holiday visas are being treated from family members of non-nationals who are working here on proper work permits obtained prior to the holder entering the country; and if an application by persons (details supplied) will be approved. [20808/01]
The general position in respect of non-EEA nationals who are legally employed in the State and who wish to be joined here by visa required family members is that the worker in question must have been in the State for a period of 12 months and have the expectation of remaining here for at least a similar period before he or she can be joined here.
The persons in question are visa required family members of a person who has been legally employed here since January 2001. They would not, therefore, qualify for admission in order to reside here on the above basis. They applied for a visit visa earlier this year but were refused because my Department was not satisfied that they would observe the terms of the visit visa and in particular that they would return within the required time frame.
