Seán Haughey
Question:814 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding applications for refugee status by persons (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1213/03]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
The husband of this family entered the State on 9 December 1999 and claimed asylum on the following day. His wife entered the State on 10 July 2000 with her young son and claimed asylum on that date. Following consideration of the cases of both parents by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, they were informed on 6 April 2001 that their appeal had failed.
Subsequently, the persons concerned were written to on 19 May 2001 and informed that the Minister proposed to deport the family from the State. They were given the options of making written representations to the Minister to set out any reasons as to why they should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State, voluntarily leaving the State or consenting to the making of deportation orders. No response was received to this correspondence.
The persons concerned subsequently made an application for permission to remain in the State based on parentage of an Irish born child. Applications of this type are not currently being processed pending a determination of future policy in relation to such applications in the light of the recent Supreme Court decision.