Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
344 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of asylum seekers resident here from the Czech Republic after the accession of that country to the EU in May 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10657/04]
View answerThe EU accession states, including the Czech Republic, were designated as safe countries of origin on 15 September 2003 by order made under the Refugee Act 1996. By virtue of this designation, asylum applications from nationals of these states are prioritised for processing by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Accordingly, it is expected that there will be very few such applications on hands on 1 May 2004 when the Czech Republic becomes a full member of the European Union.
The position concerning the treatment of any outstanding asylum applications which may be on hands from nationals of the accession states generally on 1 May 2004 is under consideration at the present time and will have regard to the fact that from that date, the ten accession states will be party to the treaties governing the European Communities and their citizens will, in general, enjoy the same rights in relation to free movement as current EU citizens.
345 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers deported in the past 12 months; the numbers of each nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10670/04]
View answerAsylum seekers have a right of temporary residence in the State while their applications are being processed and are not considered for deportation unless their applications are refused or they are transferred to another EU state pursuant to the Dublin Convention to have their asylum applications processed there.
Section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, allows the Minister to make deportation orders in respect of nine categories of person. These include asylum seekers who have failed in their applications or asylum seekers whose applications are being transferred under the Dublin Convention. Separate statistics in relation to the different categories are not maintained by my Department but the vast majority of deportations are in respect of failed asylum seekers.
The number of deportation orders effected by the Garda national immigration bureau for the period from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 was 661. The nationalities of these deportees are as follows:
|
1 April 2003 — 31 March 2004 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nationality |
Number |
Nationality |
Number |
|
Albania |
5 |
Moldova |
36 |
|
Algeria |
3 |
New Zealand |
1 |
|
Angola |
5 |
Niger |
1 |
|
Belarus |
1 |
Nigeria |
22 |
|
Brazil |
3 |
Pakistan |
5 |
|
Bulgaria |
13 |
Peru |
1 |
|
China |
41 |
Philippines |
1 |
|
Croatia |
19 |
Poland |
40 |
|
Czech Republic |
57 |
Romania |
230 |
|
Egypt |
9 |
Russia |
7 |
|
Estonia |
8 |
Serbia |
3 |
|
Gambia |
1 |
Sierra Leone |
1 |
|
Hungary |
5 |
Slovakia |
4 |
|
India |
4 |
South Africa |
38 |
|
Iraq |
4 |
Sudan |
1 |
|
Israel |
2 |
Turkey |
2 |
|
Kosovo |
16 |
Ukraine |
16 |
|
Latvia |
19 |
United States |
3 |
|
Lithuania |
25 |
Yugoslavia |
1 |
|
Malaysia |
7 |
Zaire |
1 |
