Question:
154 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of deportations of asylum seekers for each month of 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28215/98]
Written Answers - Asylum Applications.
Up until 16 December 1998 a total of 13 failed asylum seekers have been deported. In addition, 27 persons have been transferred under the Dublin Convention. The figures per month are as follows:—
|
Month |
Failed Asylum Seekers |
Dublin Convention |
|
January |
Nil |
Nil |
|
February |
Nil |
2 |
|
March |
Nil |
9 |
|
April |
2 |
Nil |
|
May |
1 |
Nil |
|
June |
Nil |
Nil |
|
July |
4 |
Nil |
|
August |
1 |
Nil |
|
September |
1 |
7 |
|
October |
3 |
4 |
|
November |
1 |
4 |
|
December (to 16/12) |
Nil |
1 |
Question:
155 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new applications for asylum received by his Department for each month in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28216/98]
The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement.
Monthly Breakdown 1998.
|
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
April |
May |
June |
|
|
Number of applications |
321 |
425 |
632 |
407 |
390 |
440 |
|
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. (14-12) |
|
|
Number of applications |
449 |
407 |
313 |
246 |
278 |
147 |
Question:
156 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the contact, if any, he has had with the Romanian Government to discuss matters related to asylum applicants. [28217/98]
The UNHCR has acknowledged that repatriation of failed asylum seekers is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of the asylum process.
One of the recommendations of the interdepartmental committee on immigration, asylum and related matters was that Ireland should conclude re-admission agreements with appropriate countries, to facilitate the repatriation of illegal immigrants and/or failed asylum seekers.
The Government accepted this recommendation, and following an exchange of letters between myself and the Minister of Interior of Romania, officials of my Department have entered into preliminary discussions with officials of the Romanian Embassy on the possibility of entering into a readmission agreement. Romania has already concluded readmission agreements with a number of other countries.