Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for visas in respect of persons (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25969/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were received in the visa office, Dublin on the 22 February 2012. Following consideration it was the decision of the visa officer to refuse the granting of the visas sought.

The visas were refused for the following reasons :

IH:- Immigration history of applicants

VR:- Previous visa refusal(s)

OB:- Obligations to return to home country have not been deemed sufficient

OC:- Condition - The applicant may overstay following proposed visit

ST:- Proposed visit is not short term in nature - exceeds 90 days

The visa officer noted that the applicants had on two previous occasions, in 2009 and 2010, not observed the conditions of visas granted and had overstayed in the State in violation of those conditions. On both occasions the duration of overstay was for a considerable period of time.

It is open to the persons concerned to appeal the decision not to grant the visas, within two months of the date of refusal, in this instance before the 22 August 2012. Where doing so the persons concerned should be in a position to address the above referred to concerns of the Visa Office, Dublin. Guidelines as to the visa appeals procedure is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (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.