Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 205: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in the matter of residency in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31808/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of Thursday, 1 May 2008, and the written Reply to that Question.

The immigration case histories and up to date positions of the two persons concerned, a husband and wife, are almost identical. As a result, for the purposes of the Deputy's Question, I will deal with the two cases as one.

Both of the persons concerned applied for asylum on 12 October 2005. Their respective asylum applications were refused following the individual consideration of their cases by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

Subsequently, in accordance with Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), both of the persons concerned were informed, he by letter dated 30 June 2006 and she by letter dated 5 July 2006, that the Minister proposed to make Deportation Orders in respect of them. They were each given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of Deportation Orders or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why they should be allowed to remain temporarily in the State. Representations were submitted on behalf of both of the persons concerned and will be fully considered before the files are passed to me for decision.