Vol. 488 No. 6
37 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the contacts, if any, he has had with the Council of Europe to assess the human rights records of countries in Europe from which refugees have come into Ireland with a view to assessing the validity of cases seeking political asylum. [6795/98]
Officials of my Department attend meetings of Council of Europe committees where asylum and migration issues are discussed. The Department has access to all Council of Europe documentation in these areas and other areas, e.g. human rights, as appropriate.
Information from many different areas, governmental and non-governmental, is used to assist in assessing the validity of cases put forward by applicants for refugee status.
39 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers served with deportation orders from this country since 1 December 1997; the number deported; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure the early implementation of the Refugee Act, 1996, having regard to the resolution passed by Dáil Éireann on 16 December 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6698/98]
63 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which he proposes to implement the Refugee Act, 1996; whether it is his intention to implement the Act as passed; if he intends introducing further legislation in this regard; the action, if any, he proposes to take to regularise the position in relation to the total number of refugees at present; if he intends to categorise people under the headings of political, economic or otherwise; whether his intended action is likely to conform to international criteria and legislation on human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6792/98]
73 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, the Government has taken to implement the Refugee Act, 1996 as promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium. [4267/98]
164 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that asylum seekers receive a fair, transparent, prompt and independent hearing of their application. [6857/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 63, 73 and 164 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my contribution to the debate on the Second Stage of the Asylum Seekers (Regularisation of Status) (No. 2), Bill 1998 on 10 March.
I am satisfied that the allocation of additional staff to the asylum division of my Department, together with the new procedures introduced following extensive consultations with the UNHCR to process applications, will lead to the backlog of cases being cleared in accordance with our international obligations and that persons entitled to be recognised as refugees will be so recognised.
In so far as the deportation of asylum seekers is concerned the position is that 29 persons have been served with deportation notices since 1 December 1997, 19 of which were in respect of Dublin convention matters. Eight of this latter group have been transferred to the relevant EU state. No other persons were deported.
