Vol. 555 No. 4
167 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-nationals deported since the beginning of 2002; if information is available regarding the fate of any such people after deportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18762/02]
The number of non-nationals deported since 1 January 2002 to date is 467.
No information is available regarding the circumstances of such persons after their deportation. However careful consideration is given beforehand to each individual case in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Act, 1999. That Act requires that before I make a deportation order in respect of a person I must consider a range of 11 personal circumstances, including the age of the person, the duration of their residence in the State, the family and domestic situation, humanitarian considerations and any representations made by the person or on their behalf. Furthermore, section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 must be considered in every case. This provides for a prohibition of refoulement where it is considered unsafe to return persons.
