Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review his refusal of refugee status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The person concerned, whose reference number is different from that provided by the Deputy, made an application for refugee status on 11 April 2003. This application was considered by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, both of whom concluded that the person concerned did not meet the criteria for recognition as a refugee. These positions were communicated to the person concerned, in writing, on 26 February and 23 September 2004 respectively. Given that this person's application for refugee status has failed, my Department has recently written to the person concerned outlining the options now open to her.

The person concerned has submitted an application for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the non-national parents of Irish-born children born before 1 January 2005. Given that more than 15,000 applications under the revised arrangements have been received to date, it will be several weeks before the person's application will be processed to completion.