The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has promised to give "full consideration" before Christmas to the appeal of a Russian woman and her daughter against deportation. Ms Olga Anisimova and her 10year-old daughter Elena were ordered to leave the State by last Wednesday or face deportation. This followed a Supreme Court decision against their request to be allowed apply for asylum in this State.
Speaking in the Dail this week, Mr O'Donoghue said he would respond "in the near future" to an application by Ms Anisimova's solicitor for humanitarian leave to stay here until the New Year.
He was responding to Mr Alan Shatter of Fine Gael, who said the Anisimovas should not be used as "guinea pigs" to establish a legal principle. The Minister should not "pass the buck" by deporting the Anisimovas to England. The Supreme Court decision in the Anisimova case is expected to pave the way for deportations of asylum-seekers next year. This is because it established the "first safe country" rule, under which asylum-seekers have to make their application for asylum in the first EU state they arrive in. The Anisimovas passed through England for 12 hours on their way to Ireland from Russia.
Since Ms Anisimova spoke to The Irish Times earlier this week, a number of people have offered to help the family. A Co Sligo family offered to welcome the Anisimovas into their home over Christmas, while other callers have said they would like to make a donation to the family.
