Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019
153. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers who have been returned from Ireland to Zimbabwe in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40836/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) gives the Minister for Justice and Equality powers to make a Deportation Order. Section 3(2) of that Act sets out the nature of persons in respect of whom such an Order can be made. This includes, among other categories of person, a person who has served or is serving a term of imprisonment imposed on him or her by a court in the State, a person whose deportation has been recommended by a court in the State before which such person was indicted for or charged with any crime or offence, a person whose application for asylum, based on the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), has been refused by the Minister and a person whose deportation would, in the opinion of the Minister, be conducive to the common good.
Section 3(3) of the Act provides the procedure to be followed before any such Order can be made while section 3(4) sets out the three options open to any person put on notice of a proposal to make a Deportation Order in respect of them. These options are to leave the State voluntarily, to consent to deportation or to submit written representations against the making of such an Order.
I am informed by the Immigration Service of my Department, that the State has not returned any individual to Zimbabwe in the years mentioned in the Deputy's query.
