Vol. 567 No. 1
226 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department or the human rights unit consults the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform about the documentary evidence generated as a result of the asylum deter mination process and held by that Department or bodies under its auspices, of recognised human rights violations, including torture, experienced in countries that resolutions are tabled against before the UN Human Rights Commission. [13828/03]
My Department does not have access to information provided in connection with asylum applications.
Under the Refugee Act 1996 the refugee determination process operates within an independent statutory framework. Two independent statutory agencies were established under the Act. The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner considers asylum applications and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal considers appeals. They both make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether refugee status should be granted in individual cases. Any information supplied by an asylum seeker in the course of an application for a determination of refugee status remains confidential.
