Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
176 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will take steps to ensure that an application under the family reunification scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath which was submitted almost a year ago is immediately dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/04]
View answerThe person in question made an application for family reunification in November 2003 and she was subsequently informed that she did not qualify for this. The statutory family reunification scheme operated by my Department under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 deals only with refugees and their families. None of the persons involved in this application had been granted refugee status. The immigration division of my Department has recently been in contact with the person concerned to ascertain if she has any other basis for seeking permission to remain in the State and, on receipt of a reply, a decision will be made in her case.
