Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Noel Ahern

Question:

782 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications refused from refugees seeking asylum in the past five years; the number deported; the balance between those refused and deported; if they are still in the system; if their cases are appealed to the courts; if the relevant health boards are advised when cases are refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18194/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999(to31-08-99)	Total
Refused at first instance	43	32	304	1,202	1,980	3,561
Refused following appeal	2	0	0	217	487	706
Nos. deported	0	0	0	14	0	14
Removed to EU States underDublin Convention	0	0	0	27	0	27

These figures do not include the 1,428 persons whose applications were deemed abandoned since May, 1998 in accordance with paragraph 20 of the procedures for processing asylum claims where the applicant fails to attend an interview or is otherwise uncontactable without good and sufficient reason.

There are 1,561 persons who have been refused refugee status and are no longer in the asylum process. It should also be noted that a person in this situation has an opportunity to make submissions as to why he or she should not be removed and to advance any other grounds they may have for remaining in the State, such as marriage to the Irish national.

At present there are 17 asylum related cases awaiting judicial review hearing of which seven cases have been refused refugee status and have sought a review; ten whose asylum applications were deemed to be the responsibility of other EU member states under the first safe country rule for cases prior to 1 September 1997 or the Dublin Convention since then.

There is ongoing liaison between my Department, the Eastern Health Board and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs with regard to asylum and related matters to ensure that the relevant authorities are appropriately notified of all refusals.

In relation to the fact that there have been no deportations to date in 1999, I should point out that the power to deport under Article 13 of the Aliens Order, 1946, was struck down as unconstitutional by the High Court on 22 January 1999. The power has since been restored by the Immigration Act and I will shortly make regulations necessary to allow deporations to resume in accordance with the procedure set out in that Act.