Vol. 568 No. 1
674 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath, who had a valid work permit and who had duly applied to renew the said work permit, was deported; the reason the person was never informed that there was a deportation order made in respect of them; when such deportation order was made and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15594/03]
The person concerned arrived in the State on 24 October 1999 on foot of a visa issued to allow him attend a music festival in Sligo as a member of a visiting choir. Once here the person claimed asylum. His claim for asylum was processed and was deemed to be manifestly unfounded. He was informed of this decision by letter on 10 December 1999; this letter was re-issued on 28 January 2000. He subsequently appealed the decision in relation to his asylum application. This appeal was unsuccessful and he was notified of this by letter dated 24 March 2000. In that letter he was informed of the options open to him, that is, to leave the State voluntarily, to consent to the making of a deportation order or to make written representations to the Minister setting out reasons why he should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State.
Representations were subsequently received on the person's behalf. These representations were considered but his application for leave to remain was refused. A deportation order in respect of him was signed by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 11 May 2000. The person was notified of this decision by letter of 12 June 2000 and he was requested to attend at the then Immigration Registration Office in Harcourt Square, Dublin 2, on 18 June 2000 in order to make arrangements for his deportation. The person did not attend as requested. It subsequently came to the notice of my Department that the person concerned had returned to his country of origin without informing the Irish authorities.
