Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason persons (details supplied) have not been granted a three month visa to travel to Ireland to be with their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19056/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The applications referred to by the Deputy were lodged in the Visa Office, Beijing on 11 April, 2008. They were refused on 2 May, 2008 as the Visa Officer was not satisfied with the financial evidence shown and the applicant's obligations to return home were deemed insufficient. It was also noted that one of the applicants has a previous visa refusal. He was refused a Join Spouse Visa as his wife in Ireland was unable to provide evidence that she was in a position to support her husband and son without recourse to public funds.

It is open to the applicants to appeal against the refusal of the visas. Full details of how to lodge an appeal through the Visa Office in Beijing can be found on www.embassyofireland.cn