Question:
354 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a legal aid service for asylum-seekers will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20570/98]
Written Answers. - Refugee Legal Services.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 389 of 6 October 1998. The position has not changed since then.
Question:
355 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the legal aid available to asylum seekers whose cases are being dealt with under the Dublin Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20571/98]
Question:
364 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if legal aid is available to an asylum seeker when his case is assessed under the manifestly unfounded procedure for dealing with asylum applications. [20581/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 364 together.
Pending the introduction of the refugee legal service, legal aid is only available for asylum seekers to present their cases to the appeals authority following the substantive consideration of an application.
In relation to the Dublin Convention an applicant is given five working days to appeal in writing to an independent appeals officer the determination to send him/her back.
If an application is deemed manifestly unfounded the applicant may appeal the decision within seven days to an independent appeals authority. The UNHCR is also notified of each such decision and provided with a copy of any appeal submission made.
These procedures are detailed in the document "Procedures for Processing Asylum Claims in Ireland" a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.