Vol. 498 No. 4
403 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Refugee Act, 1996, will be implemented in full; if he will allow immigrants to work while awaiting consideration of their application for residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27826/98]
As I have indicated to this House on several occasions I am of the view that the Refugee Act in its present form is unworkable for a number of reasons.
The Act and its procedures were designed to process approximately 300 to 400 applications per year. However, we have experienced an enormous growth in the number of asylum seekers with over 4,000 applications recorded so far this year — the Act only provided for the appointment of one Refugee Applications Commissioner and one appeal board with no powers of delegation.
It is intended to review the question of the implementation of the Refugee Act in the light of a comparative study between Irish and EU member states refugee legislation which has been commissioned and is due to be completed by the end of the year and having regard to the experience gained in the Department in the operation of the current refugee determination procedures.
In relation to allowing immigrants to work while awaiting consideration of their application for residency, I would refer the Deputy to my Parliamentary Question No. 26 to of 26 November 1998.
I have nothing further to add at present.
