Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 2001

Vol. 531 No. 5

Written Answers. - Bilateral Agreements.

Alan Shatter

Question:

109 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the countries with which Ireland has concluded bilateral readmission agreements regulating the deportation/repatriation of their nationals; and the main provisions of such agreements. [6283/01]

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

The State has concluded a readmission agreement with Romania, which I signed in Bucharest on 12 May 2000. A copy of the agreement was laid before the House on 26 May 2000 and the terms of the agreement were approved by the Dáil on 29 June 2000.

In summary, the agreement provides, inter alia, for the readmission to Romania of persons with Romanian citizenship who are residing in the State without authorisation; the readmission of third country citizens who arrived in the State directly from Romania and who are currently residing here without authorisation; and the possibility, in limited circumstances, of third country citizens transiting either State, under escort, while being returned to a third country.

The agreement sets out time limits within which requests for readmission must be made and processed and it lays down the basis on which the citizenship of a person to be readmitted can be proved to the mutual satisfaction of the contracting parties. It provides for exceptions to the readmission obligation in respect of third country citizens in certain circumstances, including where such persons have been granted refugee status or are in the process of having an asylum application considered. It also contains provisions relating to data protection and sets out the basis on which the agreement can be amended, suspended, denounced or reviewed.

Similar agreements have been concluded with Poland and Bulgaria and were approved by the Government on 22 January 2001. I hope to sign these agreements in the near future. Arrangements for a readmission agreement with Nigeria are at an advanced stage.

Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 27.

Questions Nos. 111 and 112 answered with Question No. 33.