Vol. 513 No. 6
391 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to have an amnesty for existing asylum seekers here, following the example in Belgium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3297/00]
Neither I nor the Government have any plans to introduce an amnesty for existing asylum seekers in Ireland.
The question of a possible amnesty here was considered in 1998 by the interdepartmental committee on immigration, asylum and related issues. Having taken into account all necessary factors, the committee recommended that an amnesty should not be introduced as to do so could have an adverse impact on the integrity of the asylum processing system.
I understand that the amnesty introduced in Belgium was a qualified one and was coupled with the measure of closing off its borders in a bid to counteract illegal trafficking. As Ireland operates border controls on arrivals from outside the common travel area with the UK, including arrivals from Schengen states, the introduction of a measure similar to that of Belgium would entail the introduction of systematic immigration controls on persons coming here from the UK. There are no plans to take such a course of action, not least because of the enormous benefits which the common travel area provides for Irish and UK nationals.
I believe that the most effective way of dealing fairly and humanely with asylum seekers here is to establish a coherent framework within which they will have their applications processed speedily and, in accordance with the best international practice, and to integrate those persons granted refugee status fully into Irish society. My Department has made significant progress in this regard and I consider that the introduction of an amnesty would undermine this progress and, indeed, send out the wrong signals especially to those who are engaged in the trafficking of persons.
The number of asylum applicants in the State who meet refugee criteria, as laid down by the Geneva Convention 1951, is quite small. Approximately 25% of applicants are found to be entitled to refugee status having completed the application process, including those cases adjudicated upon by the independent appeals authorities. Thus an amnesty, if introduced, would mainly benefit a large number of applicants who would not normally be entitled to refugee status.
