Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 3

Written Answers. - Asylum Seekers.

Alan Shatter

Question:

126 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons refused asylum who have to date been deported from the State; and the number of persons on whom deportation orders have been served who have not yet been deported from the State and who have not, to his knowledge, voluntarily left the State. [20767/00]

Michael Creed

Question:

142 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons seeking asylum who have been legally deported to date. [20935/00]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 142 together.

Since deportations commenced under the Immigration Act, 1999, I have made a total of 688 deportation orders, including 629 in respect of failed asylum seekers. Six persons, of whom four were failed asylum seekers, were deported in 1999 and a further 78 persons, of whom 60 were failed asylum seekers, have been deported in the year 2000 to date. In addition, a further five failed asylum seekers left the State before the deportation orders could be enforced. I am not in a position to confirm whether or not any of the remaining persons have left the State voluntarily.

The following is the position in the relation to the remaining cases: 126 persons, of whom 113 are failed asylum seekers, evaded deportation orders; 170 persons, of whom 167 are failed asylum seekers, were not at their last known address for the purposes of service; 91 persons, of whom 88 are failed asylum seekers, have been granted leave to seek judicial review by the courts. Arrangements are being put in place in respect of another 61 persons, of whom 59 are failed asylum seekers. Some 123 persons, all of whom are failed asylum seekers, will have to have their returns negotiated with the authorities in their countries of origin. Deportation orders in respect of the remaining 28 persons, ten of whom are failed asylum seekers, are being, or have been, revoked, primarily on the advice of the Attorney General.