Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; if his attention has further been drawn to the cost and expense already involved in changing flights; and if he will make arrangements to resolve the issue. [27114/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It appears in this case that the parent(s) brought their child, an Irish born citizen, to their country of origin to stay with family members. Both parents had originally entered this State illegally and separately, and later had their subsequent applications for asylum refused, with one being deemed "manifestly unfounded". Following the birth of a child they both obtained residency based on parentage of an Irish born child.

The appropriate course of action in a case like this, where parent(s) bring their child out of the country to stay with a family member, is that the parent(s) should bring the child back into the country themselves. Clearly it remains open to one or both of the parents resident in the State to travel to their country of origin to accompany the child on her return.

A visa officer will have to have regard to a number of factors, including the immigration history of the sponsor(s), when deciding on a visa application.

As regards the cost and expense involved in changing flights etc., I refer the Deputy to the advice in the visa information leaflet that accompanies application forms, which states that "travel tickets should not be booked or paid for by applicants until their applications have been approved".