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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Refugee Status.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

1175 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application will be expedited in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny to have members of their family joint them from Pakistan; and the timeframe involved for such applications. [20440/03]

The person in question was granted refugee status in the State. His application for family reunification was received by the visa office in my Department on the 22 September 2003. As required by section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996, his application has been referred to the Refugee Applications Commissioner for investigation. The commissioner will prepare a report based on the examination of the application and will submit it to my Department for consideration and decision. Family reunification applications are taking approximately nine months to process.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

1176 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application to continue to remain here in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if a further extension will be granted in view of the fact that this person's brother (details supplied) now lives here. [20441/03]

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 643 of 7 May 2003 in relation to the applicant in question. As I stated in that reply, this person was granted permission to remain in the State in September 2001 for one year as an exceptional measure on the basis that she was dependent on her brother. She is no longer a minor and she has indicated that she does not reside with her brother and, as a consequence, is no longer dependent on him. Consequently, the permission to remain which was originally granted to her cannot simply be extended on the basis of dependency. Although her family and domestic circumstances will be taken into account in the context of her application they will be evaluated by reference to the fact that the applicant is no longer a minor.

My Department has recently written to the person in question seeking clarification of her application for permission to remain in the State. On receipt of the documentation requested a decision will be made on her case.

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