Question:
147 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider an application for asylum by persons (details supplied); and when a decision will be made on their application. [13470/01]
Written Answers - Asylum Applications.
The persons concerned withdrew their applications for asylum on 30 January 2001. They had also applied for residency on the basis that they are the parents of an Irish national and were granted permission to remain in the State on that basis on 13/03/2001.
Question:
148 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will consider an application for asylum by persons (details supplied); and when a decision will be made on their application. [13471/01]
The Refugee Act, 1996, as amended by the Immigration Act, 1999, and the Illegal Immigrants Trafficking Act, 2000, was 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 considers applications for a declaration as a refugee at first instance and the refugee appeals tribunal which considers applications for a declaration at appeal stage. I understand that a recommendation has been issued to the applicant by the Refugee Applications Commissioner in respect of the application for asylum. I will be making a decision based on this recommendation, in accordance with section 17(1) of the Refugee Act, 1996, as soon as possible.