Visa Applications
448. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason the visa applications of the world-recognised Bosnian artists (details supplied) who were due to attend and exhibit at an art exhibition held by the Bosnian Community Development Project in Temple Bar in April 2006, were rejected, thus leading to the cancellation of the Exhibition; if this was a violation of protocol, in view of the fact that this Art Exhibition was part of the 2006 annual funding given by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19669/06]
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 713 of Tuesday, 25th April, 2006 (ref: 15084/06) and the written reply to that Question.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell): The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were received in my Department on the 9th March, 2006.
When assessing any visa application, the Visa Officer will consider various matters, including whether it is reasonable in all the circumstances to conclude that the applicants would fully honour the conditions of the visa. The Visa Officer will also have regard to information provided and to such factors as the applicant’s ties and general circumstances in their country of origin. The applications in question were refused because the Visa Officer could not be satisfied, on the basis of the documentation supplied to my Department, that the applicant would observe the conditions of the visa. In addition, it was felt that the applicants had not displayed sufficient evidence of obligations to return home following the proposed visit.
Appeals against the initial refusal decisions were received on 20th March, 2006. Following a re-examination of the applications, the decisions to refuse were upheld on 31st March, 2006.