Trevor Sargent
Ceist:50 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status and humanitarian position of Bosnians in Ireland. [2946/96]
Written Answers. - Bosian Refugees.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for programme refugees only, i.e. refugees admitted to Ireland under the terms of Government decisions.
Since 1992, more than 500 Bosnians have come to Ireland as programme refugees. A Government decision of July 1995 provided for the admission of an additional 250 refugees from the former Yugoslavia, with their close relatives, of whom almost 80 arrived here in December 1995.
Programme refugees can in practice stay in Ireland for as long as they wish. The Minister for Justice has agreed that they may apply for naturalisation as Irish citizens after three years' residence in Ireland.
Programme refugees are entitled to seek and enter employment, and have the same access to public services as is afforded to Irish citizens. The Refugee Bill, which is currently before Dáil Éireann, will provide a statutory basis for these rights for programme refugees.
In recognition of the fact that refugees can have particular problems in accessing public services or may at times need services geared to their special needs, the Refugee Agency, a non-statutory body funded by and operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for the reception, resettlement and integration of programme refugees. It liaises between refugees and Government Departments, local authorities, and other bodies in ensuring the provision of services to which refugees would be entitled.
The Board of the Refugee Agency includes representatives of relevant Government Departments.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:51 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the information, if any, the Government has about the return of Bosnians from Croatian camps to Bosnia; the number of these camps that are being cleared; and his views on the matter. [2947/96]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:52 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, that are being made concerning recent disappearances in Sarajevo, Bosnia, since the implementation of this peace accord. [2948/96]
In response to Questions Nos. 51 and 52 I refer the Deputy to the reply I made on 30 January last to Question No. 92 asked by Deputy Seán Haughey. The situation has not changed since then with regard to either of the matters.