Michael Ring
Question:364 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an application for asylum by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be finalised. [4500/02]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
The person in question arrived in the State on 31 May 2000 and applied for asylum on 1 June 2000. He failed to attend interviews in relation to his claim for asylum on 17 August 2001 and on 4 October 2001. The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner wrote to the person in question on 22 October 2001 informing him that, due to his failure to attend for interview, the commissioner was recommending to the Minister that he should not be declared a refugee. In a letter dated 30 November 2001, my Department informed the person in question of that decision and included a notification under Section 3(3)(a) of the Immigration Act, 1999, that it was proposed to deport him. On 20 December 2001 a change of address notice containing the person in question's new address was received in my Department. I expect the case file in this matter to be submitted to me for decision in the next four to six weeks.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:365 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/02]
Under the Refugee Act, 1996, two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications and appeals for refugee status and make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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 as soon as possible.