Vol. 493 No. 5
198 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the guidelines, if any, his Department is following in the implementation of manifestly unfounded procedures; and if Excom 30 resolution of UNHCR is being fully adhered to in these determinations. [16625/98]
Manifestly unfounded applications for refugee status have caused significant problems for many countries and are a matter of concern to UNHCR because they cause delay and difficulties for genuine applicants. The Executive Committee of the UNHCR drew attention to the problem of manifestly unfounded or abusive applications for refugee status in its conclusion EXCOM No. 30 in 1983. The committee considered that national procedures "may usefully include special provisions for dealing in an expeditious manner with applications which are considered to be so obviously without foundation as not to merit full examination .". EC Ministers also passed a resolution on the subject in 1992.
The current procedures for processing asylum claims of 10 December 1997, as amended on 13 March 1998 are taken directly from section 12 of the Refugee Act, 1996 and take into account the UNHCR conclusion and the EC Ministers' resolution on manifestly unfounded applications.
