Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Feb 1999

Vol. 501 No. 2

Written Answers. - Residency Rights.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

316 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the points within the 1989 judgment in respect of the residency rights of the parents of an Irish born child being examined by the Attorney General; if the residency rights of a non-national parent where the other parent is Irish are also being reviewed; if persons who have made such a residency application are at risk of deportation while the cases remain on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5694/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

My Department currently has on hand a large number of applications from persons seeking permission to reside in Ireland, as the parents of Irish citizens. In many, but not all, of these cases both parents are non-nationals.

The Attorney General has been consulted regarding all aspects of the application of the judgment in the Fajujonu case and I hope to be in a position to reach a decision in these cases in the very near future. As the Deputy may be aware, the provision on deportation of non-nationals has been struck down as unconstitutional by the High Court but, even if this were not the case, persons would be at no risk of deportation while their residency applications are pending.