Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 439 of 4 October 2005, if a decision to refuse the visa was reached on 24 August 2005; the reason that decision did not appear on his Department's visa decisions web page until 3 October 2005; the further reason no notification of the decision was issued until requested by this Deputy on 28 September 2005; and if a decision on the appeal will be expedited in view of the fact that a month had elapsed before the applicant was informed of the decision. [27726/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The application in question was received by my Department on 24 August. The decision was reached on 26 September 2005.

I assure the Deputy that my Department notifies applicants of decisions as soon as possible and that if an error were ever to occur whereby an applicant was not notified within a reasonable timeframe, a late appeal would of course be accepted.

In this case, the Department of Foreign Affairs was arranging to notify the applicant of this decision through the standard channels. Before that process could be completed, a request was received from the Deputy's office with regard to the application. As a result, the numerous reasons for refusal were faxed to the Deputy on 29 September 2005. The decision was listed on the website on 3 October 2005 as part of the normal weekly update.

Any appeal lodged by the applicant must be received within two months of the date of the decision letter, which was 4 October 2005. Any appeal should be accompanied by additional documentation designed to address the reasons for refusal outlined above and with regard to the criteria previously explained.