Brian O'Shea
Ceist:213 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if refugee status has been granted to any person from Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29127/00]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
Since 1995, 45 applicants from Nigeria have been granted refugee status.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:214 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford from Nigeria, who is seeking refugee status, the efforts which were made to substantiate her claims in regard to the kidnapping and death of members of her immediate family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29128/00]
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:215 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the efforts which have been made to establish the status of the Ijaw tribe; if it is safe for members of the Ijaw tribe to resettle in any part of Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29129/00]
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:216 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the information his Department has in regard to the political situation in Nigeria; the source of that information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29130/00]
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 216, inclusive, together.
The Refugee Act, 1996, was commenced in full on 20 November 2000. Under the Act, two new independent statutory offices were established to consider applications-appeals for refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether such status should be granted. These are the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, which considers applications at first instance, and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which considers appeals.
The information which was used in the assessment of the case referred to by the Deputy was made available to the applicant for the purposes of an appeal which was rejected by the independent appeals authority.
I would point out that having regard to section 19 of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended, which is intended to protect the identities of asylum applicants, it is not appropriate to disclose information in relation to an individual asylum application. In so far as an individual application for asylum is concerned, it would also be inappropriate to comment on the situation on the ground in any particular country of origin.
However, I would point out that in considering all asylum applications consideration is given to the subjective and objective elements of a claim for refugee status. The subjective element of an asylum claim would have regard to the individual circumstances as perceived and described by the applicant. The objective element of the claim would have regard to the relevant country of origin information which comes from a wide variety of sources, including information from 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. In addition to these periodically updated sources, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner has access to up to date news reports regarding events and developments in the countries concerned.