Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1044: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department operates a policy that mothers who are not employed outside the home should be denied visas to visit their Irish resident children on the grounds that they do not have economic or professional ties to their home country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25730/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There is an extensive set of criteria applied when assessing any visa application. These criteria, to a large extent, depend on the context in which the application is made, the personal circumstances of the applicant, and the nature and purpose of the application itself. Government policy of the day will also have an influence on the assessment of applications falling into specific categories.

The onus rests with the applicant to provide evidence of actual ties with their country of origin, which may be ties of an economic, social, personal or professional nature. Such ties are factors which may be taken into consideration when examining an application for a visa. An applicant for a visit visa seeks to enter the State for a short period only and must clearly demonstrate that he or she will adhere to the conditions of that visa and will depart the State in line with those conditions. Such criteria apply to all applicants including, as the Deputy mentioned, mothers visiting children who are residing in the State.