John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of asylum seekers that have gone missing annually here since 1998 according to age and gender; the resources being employed to find said asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18973/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of asylum seekers that have gone missing annually here since 1998 is only available from 2001 in respect of gender.

The following are the figures for persons who failed to show as required by law at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) offices at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, or outside the Dublin Metropolitan Region, at a Garda Station nominated in notices issued by my Department under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended. These figures reflect the number of people who have failed to show for the given year and who have not since been apprehended.

The figures relate to all persons against whom deportation orders were issued, not only failed asylum seekers. The figures do not reflect persons who might have failed to appear in a particular year and subsequently changed status for any reason, such as becoming a citizen of the European Union as a result of the accession of their country into the Union. It is not possible to provide a breakdown between the various categories.

All members of An Garda Síochána are empowered to arrest persons evading deportation orders. A key objective of the GNIB is to pursue evaders of deportation orders.