Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reconsider the decision regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) for visas for their spouse and child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20187/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The visa applications in question were to enable a wife and child of a non-EEA national employed under the employment permit scheme to reside with him in the State. A worker employed under the work permit scheme may be joined by their spouse and minor children after the worker has been in the State for one year and has been offered a contract for a further year. The worker must also be able to fully support the family members in question without the need to have recourse to public funds.

When assessing applications for family reunification the visa officer will consider, among other things, whether the level of salary of the worker would come within the ambit of qualifying for payments from public funds. The applications in question were refused as it was felt that the documentation did not show that the worker in question was in a position to fully support his family without recourse to public funds at the time.

An appeal in respect of the applications was received on 13 December 2004. However, based on the additional documentation supplied, the visa appeals officer was unable to conclude that the initial refusal decision should be overturned. Consequently, the application was refused on appeal on 21 December 2004. It is open to the persons in question to submit fresh applications with current supporting documentation.