The visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department on 29 March 2004 and was accompanied by a passport for the eight year old in question. The immigration authorities were not satisfied as to the authenticity of this passport and the visa was refused on 11 October 2004.
It may be of benefit to the Deputy if I outline some background to this case. The eight year old in question arrived in the State in the company of his mother in January 2000 whereupon his mother made an application for asylum. She gave birth in July 2000. The husband arrived in the State in November 2000 and made an application for asylum. Both parents subsequently withdrew their asylum applications and applied for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish born child. This permission was granted to both parents in March 2001. The mother of the person in question has since come to the adverse attention of the Garda authorities.