Vol. 529 No. 2
150 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reconsider the application of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for refugee status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2608/01]
The Refugee Act, 1996, as amended by the Immigration Act, 1999, and the Illegal Immigrants Trafficking Act, 2000, were commenced in full on 20 November 2000. Under the Act, two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications-appeals for refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister on whether such status should be granted.
These two offices are the office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, which will consider applications for a declaration as a refugee at first instance and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which will consider applications for a declaration at appeal stage. A decision on the application in question will be made upon receipt of the recommendation of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or the Refugee Appeals Tribunal as appropriate.
