Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

John McGuinness

Question:

779 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current status of an application for asylum by a person (details supplied); if, in general, solicitors are available to those applications who appeal or attend for interview; the information that is made available to those attending for interview; if a person is allowed to sit with the applicants during interview; the average time it takes to conduct such an interview; and the facilities that are available to the applicants in the building where the interviews are carried out. [23957/00]

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

It is not the general practice to comment publicly on individual applications for refugee status having regard to the fact that applications by their nature are made in confidence with the expectation by the applicant that such confidence will be preserved. However, I can confirm that the applicant referred to was interviewed in connection with his asylum application on 3 October 2000. The application is currently being considered and it is expected that a decision will issue to the applicant shortly.

Applicants for asylum are currently dealt with under "The Procedures for Processing Asylum Claims in Ireland" as notified to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee – UNHCR. All applicants are at present provided with an information leaflet in one of 24 languages at the time of their initial application and prior to interview which sets out these procedures and advises them of their rights including access to legal support. The leaflet also includes details of useful contacts including the Refugee Legal Service – RLS. These procedures provide for applicants to contact at any time, the UNHCR representative and/or a legal representative of his or her choice.

Any applicant may seek legal assistance from the RLS at any stage of the asylum application process. With effect from 2 March 2000, the RLS was given full responsibility for the State funded scheme of legal assistance to asylum seekers. Under these arrangements an individual who wishes to obtain legal advice or assistance in relation to his or her application has the choice of either using the services of the RLS including its private practitioners panel or of engaging private legal representation to provide advice in relation to their application.

Interviews are scheduled on the basis that it will take on average three and a half hours to conduct an interview. There is no defined time limit on the duration of an interview as each interview will vary in length from as little as one hour to five or more, depending on the circumstances of an applicant. On average an interview takes approximately three hours. An applicant may be accompanied by a representa tive at interview and the representative is given an opportunity to make any points at the end of the interview. In addition, at any point before or up to five working days after the interview, the applicant or their representative may make written representations relating to the case.

Applicants attending for interview are provided with interpretation facilities where practical and possible in their chosen language for interview, a waiting area, rooms for consultation with legal representatives and toilet facilities in the interview suite at the Refugee Applications Centre in 79/83 Lower Mount Street.