Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 23 March 2010, when the requested information on language analysis will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24159/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Further to Parliamentary Question No. 471 of 23 March 2010, the information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows. The services in question were availed of by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC).

Following an initial pilot project on the use of language analysis which commenced in December 2004, a Public Procurement process was undertaken in 2007 arising from which two service providers, Sprakab and Semantix, were chosen to provide language analysis services. On occasion, it has also proven necessary to use the services of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Netherlands in respect of a small number of cases over the period in question.

Arrangements under the current contract are due to expire this year. Accordingly, invitations to tender will be advertised in the near future on the eTender website. This tendering process will be run in accordance with EU Procurement Rules.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will detail the various legal provisions that govern the holding and conduct of hearings of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24160/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The legislative provisions governing the processing of asylum appeals are set out in the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), Statutory Instrument No. 424 of 2003, Refugee Act 1996 (Appeals) Regulations 2003 and Statutory Instrument No. 518 of 2006, European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of refugee determinations involving nationals from non-safe countries that were processed by the way of a prioritised procedure for each of the past five years; if he has been in contact with the European Commission on this procedure; if he is planning to reconsider these cases by means of new interviews or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24161/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring in his question to refugee determinations relating to asylum applications from Nigerian nationals, which were subject to a Ministerial prioritisation direction from 11 December 2003. The information requested by the Deputy in this regard is set out in the following tables.

In light of legal proceedings relating to the Minister's direction in respect of such nationals, the Minister, without prejudice to any actions taken to date under the direction, revoked this direction from 1 March 2010 pending completion of the proceedings in question. The Deputy's reference to contacts with the European Commission in this regard is not understood.

Recommendations to grant refugee status to Nigerian nationals 2005 - 2009

Recommendations to refuse refugee status to Nigerian nationals 2005 - 2009*

*Please note that this table does not include refusals where the application was deemed to be withdrawn under Section 22 (8) of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended)