Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 671: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the rejection of visa applications of Bosnian artists who intended visiting here for an art exhibition scheduled by the Bosnian Community Development Project, which has been cancelled as a result. [14731/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The applications referred to by the Deputy were received in my Department on 9 March 2006.

When assessing the applications in question, consideration was given to the personal circumstances of the applicants and the extent of their ties to their country of origin. The applications were refused because it was not established on the basis of the documentation supplied to my Department that the applicants would observe the conditions of a visit visa. In particular, it was felt that the applicants had not displayed sufficient evidence of their obligations to return home following their proposed visit.

An appeal against the initial decision was lodged on 20 March 2006. Following a re-examination of the case, the decision to refuse was upheld on 31 March 2006. As each application is entitled to one appeal only, no further review in this matter can be granted. However, it is open to each applicant to make a fresh application.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 672: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in respect of the application for residency of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, the copy of his military service record submitted to his Department by the person is sufficient to satisfy the requirement that the person provide evidence of identity in the form of a passport or national identity card; the status of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14732/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 128 on 26 January 2006 (ref. 2579/06). The person concerned applied for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements announced by me on 15 January 2005 for the processing of applications from the non-national parents of Irish born children born before 1 January 2005. For the reasons set out in my previous reply, the applicant does not meet the criteria for the granting of permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements and his application was refused on that basis. A copy of a military service record is not acceptable evidence of identity for the purpose of an application for permission to remain in the State under the revised arrangements.