Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 8

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

108 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-nationals under the age of 18 who were not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and who have been refused entry to the State and subsequently removed in each year since 1997; and if these people were provided with legal representation or the services of a social worker or interpreter. [27434/99]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

109 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of unaccompanied non-national minors admitted to the State in each year since 1997. [27435/99]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

110 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether he has evidence to suggest that non-national minors are being trafficked into the State for unlawful purposes. [27436/99]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

111 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether immigration officers have been provided with guidelines or procedures for dealing with non-national minors; and, if so, if he will furnish a copy of these guidelines. [27437/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 111, inclusive, together.

I understand from the Garda authorities that one minor apparently not in the company of a parent or legal guardian was refused leave to land in the past three years and that the person in question was not provided with legal representation or the services of a social worker or translator as the person was accompanied by two friends, one of whom spoke English.

No comprehensive figures are available for the number of unaccompanied non-national minors admitted to the State in each year since 1997. Indeed, many persons would be coming from within the common travel area and would not be subject to systematic immigration checks. Many of the minors admitted are either students or other young persons coming to visit relatives or friends residing here.

A small number of unaccompanied minors seek asylum, generally once inside the State, rather than at point of entry. Section 8(5) of the Refugee Act, 1996 provides that the relevant health board must be notified upon the arrival of an unaccompanied minor so that the person can be given assistance. While that section of the Act will not be commenced until the new year, my Department has undertaken to operate in accordance with its procedures, where possible. Accordingly, unaccompanied minors seeking asylum are referred by the Refugee Applications Centre to the relevant health board. The processing of such applications also has a number of child-specific features and has regard to the UNHCR's Guidelines on Policies and Procedures in dealing with unaccompanied children seeking asylum as well as the relevant paragraphs of the UNHCR's procedures handbook and the EU Council resolution on unaccompanied minors who are nationals of Third Countries, 26 June 1997.

The guidelines for immigration officers on the procedures for dealing with applicants for refugee status arriving at points of entry, prepared by my Department, state that unaccompanied minors should never be detained for immigration purposes or returned. I am considering whether separate guidelines will be necessary in the context of the coming into force of section 8(5) of the Refugee Act, 1996.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to suggest that non-national minors are being trafficked into the State for unlawful purposes. If Deputies are aware of any such evidence, they should make it available to the gardaí.