Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Department and the immigration service are often criticised by people in the Deputy's party. For example, on 3 December Deputy Naughten issued a press statement in which he criticised the Government on its performance in respect of completing cases relating to people making unfounded applications. The Deputy indicated that he wanted such cases completed quickly. In this instance, the decision was made quickly - within a number of months. Once the decision had been made, however, the mother evaded deportation. Since she was returned to her country of origin, several attempts have been made by officers of the Garda National Immigration Bureau, GNIB, to communicate with her. These officers provided the woman with their telephone numbers in order that she might contact them.

On 17 October, a member of the GNIB spoke by telephone with a woman who identified herself as the lady in question. She indicated that she did not want the child to be returned to her in her country of origin and refused to disclose her whereabouts. The member of the GNIB provided her with his personal telephone and e-mail address to assist her in making contact. No such contact has been made. Recent attempts to contact the woman by telephone have not been successful.

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