Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 786: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if guidelines exist for the use of Wikipedia as a source in evaluating asylum applications. [22604/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Refugee Act 1996 two independent statutory offices were established to consider applications and appeals in respect of refugee status and to make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on whether or not such status should be granted. These offices are the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.

I am informed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner that the guidelines for staff dealing with the investigation of applications for asylum regarding the use of Wikipedia are that it should not be used as a primary or reliable information source and the information available on Wikipedia cannot be relied upon.

I am informed by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal that Members of the Tribunal take account of best international practice and the jurisprudence of the High Court when assessing country of origin information and that Members have been advised that Wikipedia should not be used as a primary or reliable source of country of origin information.