Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will re-examine the refusal of his Department to grant visas to persons (details supplied) to join their parents here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29602/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The three visa applications in question were received by my Department on 7 September 2005 for the stated purposes of enabling the applicants to travel to the State to reside with their parents here. The mother of the applicants arrived in the State on 22 September 2002 and made an unsuccessful asylum application. She gave birth on 7 October 2002 and applied for residency based solely on parentage of an Irish born child. This was granted in April 2005. The father of the applicants arrived in the State on 10 March 2005 and made an unsuccessful asylum application. He also applied for residency based on parentage of the same Irish born child. This was granted in September 2005.

Applicants for permission to reside in the State solely on the basis of parentage of an Irish born child were made fully aware of Government policy in this area, namely, that persons granted residency on that basis should not expect to have any entitlement to be joined in the State by other family members. This fact was clearly stated on the front page of the application form for such residency. The application form also included a statutory declaration to be signed by applicants indicating their acceptance, inter alia, that the granting of such permission to remain does not confer any entitlements or legitimate expectation on any other person, whether related or not, to enter the State.