John Ellis
Question:32 Mr. Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm a statement (details supplied) made by the Minister of State at his Department; and whether there is a civil war in Iran. [7194/97]
Written Answers. - Refugee Status.
The Minister of State Deputy Burton, was interviewed on the "Morning Ireland" programme on 27 February on the increase in the number of people seeking refugee status in Ireland, and the procedures for processing their applications. The Minister explained that, in considering applications for refugee status, which have to be based on a well-founded fear of persecution, a distinction has to be made between applications from people fleeing conditions of strife — in this context she cited a number of countries including Iraq and Iran — and other applications where the main interest of the applicants may be in bettering their economic conditions.
It is undeniable that, as the Minister of State said, both Iran and Iraq are both in an area of tension, not least because of the ongoing Kurdish conflict in northern Iraq. The Minister of State made her comment because there have been a number of recent cases of applications for refugee status in Ireland by people from Iran.