Vol. 499 No. 1
792 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers whose cases have been heard under the two appeal authorities since its inception; and the number of applicants successful under these two appeal authorities. [1030/99]
I appointed Mr. Peter Finlay and Mr. Eamon Cahill to act as appeal authorities (to hear appeals against the decision to refuse refugee status), replacing Mr. Justice Peter O'Malley who retired from the post in July 1998. They commenced hearing cases in September 1998. The two new appeals authorities have heard 202 substantive appeals to 19 January 1999, decisions have been reached in 88 of these cases and refugee status has been granted in 29 cases. In addition, the appeal authorities have considered (on the papers) 15 appeals against the decision to refuse refugee status (on manifestly unfounded grounds) and eight appeals have been successful and seven were refused.
