Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 438 of 23 May 2006 and the position in relation to persons (details supplied), the way in which he can say that they did not have permission to stay between 2001-2002 if they were granted same by his Department in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21177/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I informed the Deputy in response to his earlier question that the couple concerned had been granted permission to remain in the State on foot of their parentage of an Irish born child in July 2000. This permission was granted for a period of 12 months initially and required the couple to register such permission with the Garda Síochána. I understand that the couple formalised their permission to remain with the Garda Síochána on the 19 July 2000 and were granted permission to remain until 13 July 2001. A copy of their Garda certificates of Registration, which they submitted in support of their applications, confirmed this.

The couple maintain in correspondence to my Department that they renewed their permission to remain in July 2001 at the Garda National Immigration Bureau's former offices at Harcourt Square, Dublin 2. However, the copy of their Garda Certificates of Registration do not carry any stamps from that office for that period. The Garda National Immigration Bureau commenced computerising their registration records in 2001/2002. The first record of the couple renewing their permission after 13 July 2001 is 11 June 2002. Consequently, there does not appear to be any record of the couple having permission to remain in the State for the period August 2001 to May 2002. As a result, this period cannot be reckoned for the purposes of naturalisation.