Vol. 557 No. 5
203 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review the asylum case of a person (details supplied) and consider rescheduling an interview on the grounds that this person was ill at the time of the request for interview and his case was sent to the repatriation unit. [22887/02]
The person arrived in the State on 2 February 2000 and applied for asylum on the following day. He was called for interview on 18 May 2000 but failed to attend. The person was notified on 19 May 2000 that consideration was being given to deeming his application abandoned and was given 14 days to inform the Department in writing of the reasons his application should not be deemed abandoned. No correspondence was received from him, and on 16 June 2000 he was notified that the Minister was proposing to make a deportation order in respect of him under the power given to him by Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999. He was informed of the following options; to make written representations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform setting out reasons he should be allowed to remain in the State, to voluntarily leave the State or to consent to deportation.
The person sought to re-enter the asylum process in July 2000. His application to re-enter the asylum process was considered by the asylum division of the Department. On 24 August 2000, his legal representatives were informed that the matter had been considered and that the decision to deem his case abandoned still stood. A further opportunity was afforded to him to submit representations as to why he should not be deported. In response, his legal representatives made a detailed submission dated 1 September 2000 to the Minister pursuant to Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999, setting out why this man should not be deported and should be granted leave to remain in the State. A decision on this application is still pending.
