GNIP card renewal refused as INIS didn't extend on time

[lukk]

Hi,

My wife and son (non-EU) applied for the GBNID cards extension based on EU family rights. They were allowed to send application only one month before expiry.

Today they got their refusals because their current GBNID cards (EUFAM permits) expired during the process of extension. If I got it right, INIS declined to extend their permits because they, INIS, were too slow to act on time and let the thing lapse rather then extend within a 4 week period.

They are asked to apply for a new "Permission Letter". Do you always need to reapply for a new letter at each extension juncture or did INIS being to slow ruined the process that they were running themselves?

On top of this my family is going for a 6 week holiday home in Asia. Does it mean they will need to apply for re-entry visas at the Irish embassy? I don't see INIS processing the thing withing 6 weeks.