Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
745. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons refused asylum; the number of deportations that resulted from a refusal to grant asylum; the number of appeals made against the decision to refuse asylum; the number of successful appeals in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32900/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two types of international protection: refugee status, and subsidiary protection. People applying for such status are often called asylum seekers. A refugee is a person who cannot return to their own country for fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they belong to a particular social group (for example, due to their sexual orientation). A person who is eligible for subsidiary protection is not a refugee but does face a real risk of suffering serious harm if returned to their own country.
There is a rigorous and fair consideration of asylum applications in accordance with the International Protection Act 2015 and in accordance with EU and International law. The UNHCR, as part of its mandate in relation to international protection, has provided advice in relation to the prioritisation of applications and supports the approach taken by the Chief International Protection Officer. UNHCR has also supported the International Protection Office (IPO) in providing training programmes to its Protection Panel and IPO staff and carried out a similar role for the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). However, after due process including the appeal process, some applicants are deemed not to qualify for international protection (or humanitarian leave to remain) and accordingly are issued with a deportation order.
Based on the most recently available information, the statistics requested by the Deputy are outlined below.
|
- |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 (to 30th June) |
|
No. of persons refused Asylum |
1074 |
2169 |
985 |
1139 |
|
No of Asylum Appeals received by RAT (on foot of refusal of Asylum) |
1215 |
1778 |
- |
- |
|
No. of Appeals upheld by RAT |
224 |
303 |
|
|
|
No of Appeals received by International Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) * |
- |
- |
836 |
718 |
|
No. of Appeals upheld by IPAT |
|
|
71 |
83 |
|
No. of Deportation Orders signed where there was an asylum refusal |
437 |
565 |
407 |
16 |
|
No. of Deportations effected where there was an asylum refusal |
175 |
356 |
99 |
52 |
Please note the following:
The 2015 and 2016 figures on the number of persons who were refused asylum (refugee status) is on the basis of recommendations by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). The 2017 and 2018 figures on the number of persons who were refused asylum (refugee status) are on the basis of recommendations by the International Protection Office (IPO).
*The International Protection Act 2015 was commenced on 31st December 2016. Asylum appeals made before the commencement of the Act but not finalised by the former Refugee Appeals Tribunal were returned to the International Protection Office under the transitional provisions of the 2015 Act. These and other categories of cases reverted to the IPO for processing during 2017, continuing into 2018.
