Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2004
169 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be reunited with their son; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27653/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question, accompanied by a daughter and son then aged seven and four respectively, arrived in the State and made an asylum application in June 2000. She gave birth the following August 2000. She withdrew her asylum application and successfully applied for permission to reside in Ireland based solely on her parentage of an Irish born child. The visa application in question relates to a 15 year old son who wishes to join her in the State. No supporting documentation was submitted with the visa application form.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of L and O, the separate procedure which then existed to enable persons to apply to reside in the State on the sole basis of parentage of an Irish born child ended on 19 February 2003. The Government also decided that the general policy of allowing such parents to be joined in the State by other family members would no longer apply. Accordingly, the immigration division of my Department does not generally approve visas in respect of such visa applications.
