I propose to take Questions Nos. 453, 454, 465, 467, 470, 478, 484, 485, 486, 488, 489, 494, 500, 501, 504, 507, 508, 509, 524 and 532 together. I have already made an Order commencing sections 1, 2, 5, 22 and 25 of the Refugee Act, 1996, with effect from 29 August last.
There is in being at present a High Court injunction preventing the appointment of a Refugee Applications Commissioner under the Act. Because of this litigation, I am not in a position to appoint a Refugee Applications Commissioner, an appointment central to the introduction of the remaining sections of the Act.
As Deputies will be aware, the number of applications for asylum in the State continues to increase. This is a source of concern to me, as Minister for Jutice, Equality and Law Reform, and also to my ministerial colleagues having regard to the impact on State services dealing with welfare, housing, health care and so forth.
I am reviewing the entire situation, in conjunction with my Cabinet colleagues with responsibilities in these areas, with a view to taking whatever measures are required to deal quickly and fairly with asylum applicants. Should those measures include proposals for legislation, such proposals will be brought forward in the usual way.
The Treaty of Amsterdam, which was agreed unanimously by the member states subject to the relevant national ratification procedures contains a Protocol on asylum for nationals of member states of the European Union. The preamble to the Protocol states explicitly that the Protocol "respects the finality and the objectives of the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the status of refugees". The Government is fully satisfied that the new Protocol is consistent with the obligations of member states under the 1951 Convention, and this was an important point for Ireland in the negotiations.
Moreover, a Treaty Declaration explicitly confirms that the Protocol "does not prejudice the right of each member state to take the organisational measures it deems necessary to fulfil its obligations under the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the status of refugees". Ireland will, of course, continue to fulfil its obligations under the Geneva Convention and to take the organisational measures necessary in that regard.