Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 December 2022
86. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nationalities of the asylum seekers currently being accommodated at the former ESB offices in East Wall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61256/22]
View answerDeputy, my Department, or any other Department, is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.
My officials are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) sets out that: “the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential”.
It is, therefore, an offence under law (punishable upon conviction by a Class A fine or up to 12 months in prison or both) that I or any of my officials would give any indication as to a person's status as an international protection applicant and thus breach their right to confidentiality. Due to its specificity, nationality can be an identifying characteristic and, therefore, cannot be disclosed.
As I am sure you will appreciate, these confidentiality requirements are especially important for an asylum-seeker, whose claim inherently supposes a fear of persecution in their home country and whose situation, or that of their family or friends still living in the country from which they have sought protection, can be jeopardised if the protection of their personal information is not ensured.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
