Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 667: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding citizens from Angola who have applied for residency recently under the revised arrangements who cannot obtain their passports in view of the fact that Angola has no accredited embassy to Ireland and in view of the fact that they cannot leave the State to return to Angola to obtain passports; if such applications will still be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10089/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is a fundamental requirement for consideration of applications under the revised processing arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005, that applicants submit a valid passport or national identity document as proof of their identity. I am aware that some applicants are experiencing difficulties in obtaining these documents. In such cases, applicants are being facilitated with temporary travel documents to enable them to obtain the necessary identity document from their embassies or consulates abroad.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 668: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when documents will be returned to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare to permit this person further the information needed in regard to immigration guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The person concerned arrived in the State on 12 July 2003 with his two children and applied for a declaration as a refugee on 14 July 2003. His application was refused following consideration of his case by the office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner on 14 July 2004 and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal on 31 January 2005.

Subsequently, in accordance with section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, he was informed by letter dated 23 March 2005 that the Minister proposed to make a deportation order in respect of him and his two children. He was given the options to be exercised within 15 working days, of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons they should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State, leaving the State before an order is made or consenting to the making of a deportation order.

In the normal course of events, this person's case file, including all representations received would fall to be considered under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, and under section 5, prohibition of refoulement, of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended.

The person concerned, however, made an application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of his parentage of an Irish born child born before 1 January 2005 under the revised arrangements on 8 March 2005. Applications are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible and, where possible, in order of receipt. To date more than 17,800 applications have been received and in excess of 3,400 permissions to remain have been granted. A significant number of incomplete applications are being held pending the submission of identity documents or of additional information.

I wish to advise the Deputy that, given the number of applications being processed, it will take several weeks before the processing of the application from the person concerned will be completed. Original identity and other documents have been checked and copied and have been returned to the person concerned.