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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 4

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

220 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has identified countries where there is persecution for political beliefs; and if this list is being rigidly adhered to when deciding on the validity or otherwise of applications for political asylum. [2875/00]

My Department has not identified a list of countries where there is persecution of persons for political beliefs, therefore the question of adhering to a list when deciding on the validity or otherwise of applications for asylum does not arise. However, where it is established that a well-founded fear of persecution, within the definition laid down in section 2 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended, exists in any country, applicants will be granted refugee status.

Each application for asylum is considered on its merits, taking into consideration the information supplied by the applicant in his or her completed questionnaire, at interview and any submissions made by or on behalf of the applicant. Regard is also taken into account of the general situation in the country of origin as it pertains to the applicant's grounds for claiming asylum. For this purpose, my Department obtains information from, inter alia, the UNHCR, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Amnesty International reports, US State Department, Canadian boards of immigration and other EU member states as well as media and Internet sources. A research and documentation centre is available in the Refugee Applications Centre as a research facility for this Department and the legal representatives of asylum seekers. This documentation centre is administered by the refugee legal service in co-operation with the UNHCR.

We are committed to processing applications for refugee status in accordance with our international obligations and domestic rules and procedures with a view to providing the best possible service for all applicants.

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