Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 267: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications before the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20080/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As at 31 March 2008, there were 1,218 outstanding asylum applications awaiting a recommendation by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC). Of these, only 137 cases were on hands over 6 months. The Refugee Applications Commissioner continues to keep the procedure for processing applications for refugee status in that Office under ongoing review with a view to limiting the amount of time applicants have to wait for a recommendation to be made, without compromising on applicants rights to a fair and balanced examination of their case.

As at 31 March 2008, there were 3,369 appeals outstanding in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT). Of these, 2,136 were on hands over six months. A large volume of the appeals outstanding more than 6 months in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is due to the delay in processing appeals pending the granting of access to Tribunal Decisions following the Supreme Court judgement (in the Atanasov case) on the matter. Following the judgement the RAT set up a comprehensive data bank of previous decisions of the Tribunal, suitably redacted, which is readily available for access by legal representatives of applicants. This data bank, along with other measures being applied by RAT, will be of considerable assistance in clearing the current backlog of cases. Other factors such as adjournments, postponements and judicial reviews can also impede the Tribunal from completing cases earlier. High quality, consistent and fair decision making in all cases continues to be a high priority in the Tribunal.