Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1387. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice the status of a category of persons (details supplied) who are in the State and who are seeking to have their situation regularised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42534/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, polygamous marriage is not recognised in Irish law and therefore, the ‘second’ wife cannot be recognised as a spouse for the purposes of family reunification. For this reason, my Department cannot grant an immigration permission based upon spousal dependency to the 'second' wife.
Furthermore, as this is a polygamous marriage, any application submitted for the 'second' wife may have consequences for any future immigration permission for the existing 'first' wife.
However, it may be open to the 'second' wife to make an application for an immigration permission or an employment permit in her own right that does not rely on spousal dependency. Any such application will be determined on its own merits.
With regards to children, my Department will accept and process applications from all biological or adopted children of the father, as set out in the details supplied by the Deputy.
