Vol. 570 No. 2
239 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise with the US administration, the unacceptable practice of turning away Irish citizens at immigration posts here if they had overstayed a previous visa time by even a day or two, and doing so without warning and only after persons have booked tickets, accommodation, business arrangements, taken holidays and so on. [18263/03]
On my instructions, our embassy in Washington has again raised this matter with the US authorities. In response, the US authorities have again confirmed that if a person availing of the visa waiver programme does not obey its terms, the programme is no longer available to them. In the circumstances, it is essential that anybody who believes they may have overstayed on a previous visit to the US, should seek a visa before travelling to the United States.
240 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the case of persons (details supplied) with the US authorities and the EU Council of Ministers; and if he will give a detailed response to this case. [18361/03]
The case raised by the Deputy concerns five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the United States in December 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. The Irish Government has no official standing in this matter which is a bilateral consular question between the Cuban and US authorities. It is not my intention to intervene in this matter.
Nevertheless, in order to be as helpful as possible when replying in detail to a number of Parliamentary questions on the subject of Cuba on 25 March 2003, I asked my Department to make enquiries with the US authorities, and I gave the Dáil the information provided.
Since then, it is our understanding that, in the case of one of the five Cuban citizens, some re-scheduling of client-lawyer meetings arising from administrative issues within the US prison system, contributed, with other factors, to a delay in the preparation of the brief for his appeal. In view of this, and with the co-operation of the United States Attorney's Office, it is understood that the application for an extension of the deadline for the filing of the "initial brief" was accepted by the Court of Appeals. We understand that the brief has now been submitted.
