Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding visa applications for persons (details supplied); the reason they were refused visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27793/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The visa applications in question were received in my Department on 15 August 2005.

An extensive set of criteria is applied when assessing any visa application. Those 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 on the applicant to provide evidence of actual ties with his or her country of origin, which may be ties of an economic, social, personal or professional nature. Such ties, or the apparent lack thereof, 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 the visa applied for. In this, case, the visa officer was unable to conclude, based on the information supplied, that the applicants would necessarily observe the conditions of the visa, were it to be issued. The applications were therefore refused on 26 September 2005.

There is no record of any appeal having been received in these cases. In the event that an appeal is lodged, the applications shall be fully reconsidered, taking into account any additional information and documentation received.