As the Deputy will be aware, applications for refugee status in the State are determined by an independent process comprising the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal which make recommendations to the Minister for Justice and Equality on whether such status should be granted.
All applications for asylum in Ireland are examined in accordance with the provisions of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended). An applicant for refugee status must satisfy the definition of a refugee as provided for in the Act. A refugee is a person who, owing to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.
A comprehensive Information Leaflet for applicants for refugee status in Ireland is available on the ORAC website at www.orac.ie.