Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 713: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a project funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was frustrated in holding a celebratory art exhibition to commemorate ten years of work due to the fact that artists who were due to launch their work were denied visitors visas, causing the exhibition to be cancelled and a wasting of public moneys (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15084/06]

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

When assessing any visa application, the visa officer will consider various matters, including whether it is reasonable in all the circumstances to conclude that the applicants would fully honour the conditions of the visa. The visa officer will also have regard to information provided and to such factors as the applicant's ties and general circumstances in their country of origin. The applications in question were refused because the visa officer could not be satisfied, on the basis of the documentation supplied to my Department, that the applicant would observe the conditions of the visa. In addition, it was felt that the applicants had not displayed sufficient evidence of obligations to return home following the proposed visit.

Appeals against the initial refusal decisions were received on 20 March 2006. Following a re-examination of the applications, the decisions to refuse were upheld on 31 March 2006.