Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Refugee Status.

David Stanton

Question:

503 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when persons (details supplied) arrived here; when they will be assessed regarding their application for refugee status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17259/01]

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

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.

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.

It is understood that the persons concerned made their application on 15 June 2000. The Deputy may wish to note that the persons in question have also applied for permission to remain on the basis of their parentage of an Irish born child. Applications of this nature are dealt with in chronological order and on this basis it is likely to be several months before their case is finalised.