Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2005

Tuesday, 17 May 2005

Ceisteanna (45, 46)

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

42 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to provide a meaningful statistical breakdown of cases decided upon by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. [16185/05]

Liz McManus

Ceist:

64 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the call made by a person (details supplied) for the publication of a breakdown of the decisions made by members of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; if he will publish such details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16126/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 64 together.

As the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, RAT, is a quasi-judicial body, the members of which are statutorily independent in the performance of their functions under the provisions of sections 15 and 16 of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, it is a matter for the tribunal to decide on the nature of the statistical information which it publishes.

Some statistical data on the work of the tribunal is contained in the 2004 RAT annual report, which was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 20 April 2005.