Written answers

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Immigration and Asylum Issues

9:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 582: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the increase in numbers of migrants registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau in the past ten years; the number of deportations broken down according to failed asylum seekers or Dublin II and undocumented migrants; the revenue generated from the introduction of registration fees at GNIB and the increase in citizenship fees; the number of persons refused leave to land at Dublin Airport in the past five years; and the protocols or [i]modus operandi[/i] followed by the immigration officers. [30193/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The number of persons recorded on the register of non-nationals maintained by An Garda Síochána, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of Immigration Act, 2004, at end of each of the past ten years and the number of persons refused leave to land at Dublin Airport in each of the past five years is as follows:

Year Registered Refused Leave to land

1999 17,064 n/a

2000 26,644 n/a

2001 56,510 n/a

2002 93,546 n/a

2003 127,956 n/a

2004 133,957 3,183

2005 135,258 2,644

2006 144,090 3,437

2007 155,253 4,515

2008 164,344 3,777

2009 n/a 1,692 (31 July)

Provision is made at section 4, Immigration Act, 2004 for an Immigration Officer to authorise a non-national to land in the State. However circumstances are provided, at section 4(3)(a) to (k) under which an Immigration Officer may, on behalf of the Minister, refuse to give a person a permission to land in the State. In performing his or her functions in this regard, an immigration officer is obliged, pursuant to the provisions of the Act, to have regard to all the circumstances of the non-national concerned known to the officer or represented to the officer by him or her.

Every person landing in the State is obliged, pursuant to the provisions of section 11(2) of Immigration Act, 2004, to furnish to an immigration officer such information, in such manner as an immigration officer may reasonably require, for the purposes of the performance of his or her functions.

The number of deportations, broken down according to failed asylum seekers, non asylum seekers and Dublin II Transfers, is as follows:

Year Failed Asylum Non Asylum Total

1999 6 0 6

2000 172 16 188

2001 310 55 365

2002 417 101 518

2003 431 160 591

2004 494 104 598

2005 335 60 395

2006 241 60 301

2007 103 36 139

2008 129 32 161

Year DII Transfers

2004 64

2005 209

2006 294

2007 225

2008 271

In May 2006, a fee of €100 was introduced for the issue of registration cards to non-nationals. That fee was revised to €150 in August 2008. A total of €37,574,700 has been received up to 31 August 2009. On 1 August 2008, the fees for certificates of naturalisation were revised to €200 for minors and widows/widowers of Irish citizens and €950 in respect of all other applicants. A total of €1,077,010.22 in additional revenue has been received to date as a result of the introduction of the revised fees.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of applications received for subsidiary protection here in accordance with the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 - Statutory Instrument No. 518 of 2006; the number of applications that have been successful in this regard; the consequences for the applicant if such an application is refused; the timeframe for considering such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30219/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy might wish to note that the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 (Statutory Instrument No. 518 of 2006), in force since 10 October 2006, are directly applicable to persons who have been formally refused a declaration of refugee status by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Such persons are advised, in writing, of their entitlement to make an application for Subsidiary Protection in the State at the same time as they are being advised of the formal refusal of their asylum application. Any Subsidiary Protection application made is considered in strict accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.

In the event that an application for Subsidiary Protection in the State is refused, the position in the State of the unsuccessful applicant is then determined by reference to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. At this point a decision is made as to whether that person should become the subject of a Deportation Order or if, instead, they should be granted leave to remain in the State.

It is not possible to provide a specific indication for the timeframe within which applications for Subsidiary Protection are determined. This is primarily because no two applications will be the same in terms of their complexity. However, the average processing time (Subsidiary Protection application date to Subsidiary Protection decision date) for Subsidiary Protection decisions made in 2009, to 31 August 2009, is just under eight months.

The various statistics requested by the Deputy are set out hereunder.

YearNo. of Subsidiary Protection applications received
2006 (10 Oct. to 31 Dec. 2006)185
20071341
20081498
2009 (to 31 Aug. 2009)1381
Total4405
YearSubsidiary Protection applications 'granted'
20072
20087
2009 (to 31 Aug. 2009)17
Total26
YearSubsidiary Protection 'refused'
200797
2008472
2009 (to 31 Aug. 2009)466
Total1035

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