Vol. 566 No. 3
162 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to the policy effects of the decision of the Supreme Court of 23 January 2003, in regard to the rights of non-EU nationals whose children have been born here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12797/03]
On 23 January 2003 the Supreme Court gave its judgment in the cases of L and O which was that the Minister was entitled to deport the persons concerned who were the parents of Irish-born children.
Since that date I have ceased accepting new applications from persons claiming a right to reside in Ireland based solely on the birth of a child. On 19 February I announced that new applications for such leave to remain would not be accepted. There are over 11,000 applications on hand in respect of which no decision has been made; of those over 9,500 are current or former asylum seekers.
I have been considering, with the assistance of the Attorney General, how those cases which are currently on hand are to be dealt with and I intend to bring to Government in the very near future a more comprehensive assessment of the judgment and proposals for action on foot of it.
