Vol. 564 No. 5
316 Mr. S. Power asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for a person (details supplied) for per mission to remain in the State, based on parentage of an Irish-born child, will be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9448/03]
The Supreme Court gave its judgment in the cases of L and O on 23 January 2003 and found that the Minister was entitled to deport the persons concerned who are the parents of Irish born children. At that time there were more than 11,000 applications on hand in respect of which no decision has been made. The case to which the Deputy refers is one of those cases.
No further processing is taking place on these cases pending a determination by Government on the general policy to be adopted. I have given the Government a preliminary assessment of the implications of the judgment and, in the near future, I intend to bring to Government a more comprehensive assessment and proposals for action on foot of it.
Any person working in the State under a valid work permit may obtain permission to remain on that basis.
