Seanad debates
Tuesday, 4 February 2003
Immigration Bill 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage.
The Bill provides that somebody may indicate, at any time before an interview and for a good reason, that he or she cannot attend. In those circumstances, non-attendance will not result in a withdrawal of the application for asylum. Somebody who misses the interview may contact the commissioner and outline the reason for their absence within the following three working days. The latter period excludes weekends. He or she can even arrange for another person to do that on his or her behalf. The person in question may explain, for example, that his or her brother or sister or good friend from Nigeria missed their interview for a good reason. I refer, for example, to a medical reason which could not have been anticipated or some serious domestic event. In those circumstances, a person's not attending on the relevant day will not be deemed to be a withdrawal of their asylum application.
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