Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 699: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform why the reason given in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 30 March 2006 for not allowing reunification of family is not in accord with information furnished directly to the family. [15010/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information given to the Deputy is in accord with the information furnished to the person in question, both directly and through their legal representative.

It would appear that there is however some confusion between the decision letter on the applications for family reunification issued on 5 June 2003 and the decision letter of the review issued on 14 March 2005.

The person who is the subject of this question made an application for family reunification in respect of family members in April 2002. The application was refused on 5 June 2003. The applicant was informed of this decision at that time.

This decision was appealed by the legal representative of the person concerned. Following a re-examination of the application, it was noted that the person concerned was naturalised in July 2001 and became an Irish citizen at that time. Under section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996 only refugees may apply to have family members join them in the State. The legal representative of the person concerned was informed of this on 14 March 2005. As such the person in question has no entitlement to make an application for family reunification.

As previously stated to the Deputy, it is open to the family members of the person concerned to make visa applications to their nearest Irish Embassy outlining the purpose and intended duration of their visit to the State.