Vol. 567 No. 1
381 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expedite an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) who applied to his Department for a visa; if the further information submitted can be examined without delay and a positive response given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13644/03]
The visa application to which the Deputy refers was for the spouse of a non-EEA person working legally in the State under the work permit scheme. In the case of non-EEA workers who require a visa to travel to the State, if they arrive under the work permit scheme they must be in employment in the State for 12 months and have been offered a contract for a further 12 months before they can be joined by their families.
In addition to the above, the worker in question must be in a position to support his-her family members without the need for those family members to have recourse to public funds or paid employment – unless of course the family member is admitted in their own right on the basis of a valid work permit or working visa.
The visa application in question was refused in March 2003 because my Department was not satisfied, on the basis of the documentation submitted, that either the applicant or his spouse had sufficient funds to support her in Ireland. An appeal against the refusal was received in May 2003. The visa appeals officer, having reconsidered the application afresh, upheld the original decision. It should be noted in this regard that, according to the information supplied, the applicant's annual salary is approximately €13,500 per annum and his savings were insignificant.
It is open to the applicant to make a fresh application with up-to-date supporting documentation and the matter will be considered anew.
382 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an appeal will be determined in relation to an application by a person (details supplied) to come to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13815/03]
The visa application in respect of this person was approved on appeal in January 2003. She was subsequently granted permission to remain in the State as a dependant of her daughter in April 2003.
