Richard Bruton
Question:308 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the Refugee Act, 1996. [12717/99]
Written Answers. - Refugee Act.
I have already indicated to the House on a number of occasions that many of the provisions of the Refugee Act, 1996, are unworkable because they were devised to deal with applications for asylum at the rate then being experienced of the order of 400 per year. Applications are now being received at more than ten times that rate in 1998 the number of applications was 4,626.
In my closing speech in the House on the Second Stage of the Immigration Bill, 1999 – Parliamentary Debates, 24 February 1999, volume 501, column ref: 32 – I stated my intention to bring forward amendments to the Refugee Act by way of provision in the Bill. These amendments, designed to give proper force to the Refugee Act, are at an advanced stage of preparation. I expect to be in a position to publish them shortly and to table them for consideration by the Select Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights when it resumes examination of the Immigration Bill, 1999.
Those sections of the Refugee Act which could be commenced have been commenced since 29 August 1997.