Vol. 571 No. 3
265 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the situation of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare, the lives of whose children are in danger in Brazzaville, Congo, and in respect of whom visa applications have been made to enable them join their parents here; if the process will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21777/03]
The persons in question have permission to reside in Ireland based on their parentage of an Irish born child. The visa applications in question relate to their two children who wish to join them in the State. Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the cases of L and O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government also decided that the general policy of allowing such parents to be joined in the State by other family members would no longer apply. Accordingly, the immigration division of my Department does not generally approve visas in respect of such visa applications.
