Vol. 520 No. 1
352 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 295 of 16 May 2000, the terms of the Dublin Convention (Implementation) Order 1997 are being implemented at present; the reasons for the review as mentioned in the reply; and if the Dublin Convention is implemented in any other EU member states. [15217/00]
The terms of the Dublin Convention (Implementation) Order, 1997, have been implemented since that order came into operation on 1 September 1997. Accordingly, all applications for refugee status are examined in accordance with the terms of the Dublin Convention to determine if Ireland is the appropriate State to consider the application.
The implementation order is currently being revised to take account of the amendments to the Refugee Act, 1996 which are contained in the Immigration Act, 1999. Under section 22 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended, the function of determining whether an application should be transferred to another convention country is the responsibility of the refugee applications commissioner. At the present time, this function is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
All 15 member states of the European Union are parties to and implement the Dublin Convention. Consideration is being given at EU level at the present time, as part of the work programme in the justice and home affairs area, to the current functioning of the convention and the need for its revision is also being considered in that context.
