Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 25 May 2006 when he or Orac Rav had sight of the attached documentation with reference to the health and safety of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23265/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I would refer the Deputy to my earlier Replies to his previous Parliamentary Questions in this matter. As previously stated, the persons concerned arrived in the State on 7 March 2005 and 1 July 2005 and applied for asylum. Their applications were refused following the consideration of their cases, at first instance by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and, on appeal, by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. As the Deputy is aware, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner is a statutory body, independent in the performance of its functions, in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended). Similarly the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is a statutory body, independent in the performance of its functions, in accordance with the provisions of sections 15 and 16 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended). Additionally, each of those bodies is required to examine all elements of each asylum application it receives and, this being the case, I am entirely satisfied that all elements of the asylum applications and appeals submitted by the persons concerned were examined in detail before any final position was arrived at by those bodies. Equally, I am satisfied that any documentation or correspondence included as part of the asylum applications or appeals were given appropriate consideration by those bodies.

I would refer the Deputy again to my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 25 May 2006 where I explained how Deportation Orders came to be made against the persons concerned. The Deputy will note from that Reply that Deportation Orders were signed by me only after all relevant factors and documentation had been taken into account. Consequently Deportation Orders were signed by me on 27 February 2006.

I am satisfied that all elements of the asylum applications and appeals and applications for permission to remain in the State submitted by the persons concerned have been fairly and comprehensively examined. As a result, I am satisfied that the decisions to issue Deportation Orders in respect of the persons concerned were entirely justified.