Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate the reason visitors visas were not approved for persons (details supplied) notwithstanding that family members in this country would provide accommodation for their two month visit and therefore they would not represent a burden on the State in any shape or form; if this application can be reviewed in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10557/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were received in the Visa Office, Abu Dhabi in or around the 15 January 2012. They were refused on the 29 January 2012 for the following reasons:

1. The evidences of finances were deemed to be insufficient or incomplete;

2. There was insufficient documentation submitted in support of the application (applicants should refer to the link to "Documents Required" as displayed on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service - www.inis.gov.ie). The visa officer noted that documentation provided had not been translated. Letters of undertaking from the applicants, confirming that the conditions of the visas would be observed, if visas were to be granted, were not provided. Furthermore, no marriage certificate for the married applicant was provided;

3. The visa officer noted inconsistencies in the information supplied, specifically the source of family income. This reason is essentially linked to the first refusal reason;

4. The obligations of the applicants to return to their home country were not deemed to be sufficient;

5. It was the opinion of the visa officer that the applicants may not observe the conditions of the visa and may overstay following the proposed visits;

6. There was no clear link to reference shown. A suggested way in which a link to a reference may be shown (in cases of family members) is by way of birth certificates for all of the parties concerned.

The Deputy may wish to note that the second visa application number provided by him was incorrect. In case of future enquiries the correct reference number for the person concerned is 8282122.

As is the case with all refused visa applications, the refusal decision and the reasons for that decision were sent by way of letter to the applicant. It is open to the person concerned to submit an appeal within two months of the date of refusal, in this case before the 29 March 2012. Guidelines on the visa appeals process is available on www.inis.gov.ie.

Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.