Question:
471 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application for asylum by a person (details supplied) will be processed as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16601/01]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
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 applicants 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 the relevant documentation is received in my Department from the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.